A DRINK-DRIVER used his vehicle like a weapon to ram another car in a chase round a housing estate, a court heard.

Christopher Divers aimed his Ford Escort Cabriolet at the Vauxhall Vectra, after recognising the driver, with whom there had been ill-feeling

Durham Crown Court heard that the pursuit took in circuits of Moorside estate, near Consett, late on a Friday night in February.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said 21-year-old Divers came across the Vectra, heading from Castleside to Consett, and shone his lights in full beam at it.

The male driver, who had three female passengers, recognised Divers at the wheel and tried to get away, turning into Moorside.

Mr Towers said the Escort struck the Vectra's bumper, then twice deliberately drove into the back of the car, in one case knocking off its exhaust pipe.

He said Divers mounted the pavement and unsuccessfully tried to pull alongside the Vectra.

The chase ended and Divers and his passenger were seen in a nearby street, before fleeing into the garden of a house.

Police found and arrested him at an address on the estate. Divers gave a breath test reading almost double the drink-drive limit.

Mr Towers said the Escort was found in the vicinity with, extensive, fresh front-end damage, but Divers claimed he had been at his girlfriend's house during the evening.

The court heard he was banned from driving at the time, after a conviction for being a passenger in a car driven dangerously, which was taken without the owner's consent. It belonged to the same motorist involved in the incident in February.

Divers, now 22, of Deneburn Terrace, The Grove, Consett, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, with excess alcohol and without insurance, for the latest episode.

Brian Russell, for Divers, said: "At the age of 22, he clearly lacks maturity.

"He knows this will result in a prison sentence, but it's to be hoped it will make him grow up."

Jailing him for six months, Recorder Stephen Morris QC told Divers: "You effectively used that car as a weapon to ram another car in a chase, in circumstances where there was obviously bad feeling between you and the complainant."

Divers was also disqualified from driving for two years