A MAN who has never held a driving licence took his ex-partner’s car, without permission, to go to buy cigarettes, a court was told.

But once police spotted Gary Dodds not wearing a seat belt while at the wheel of the VW Golf, he sped away, trying to evade arrest.

Durham Crown Court heard the armed response vehicle was turned to head in his direction, in Wear Road, Stanley, shortly after 9am on Sunday, March 20.

Despite the police vehicle’s blue lights being activated and siren sounded, Dodds refused to stop and headed on at speed through residential areas of South Stanley and neighbouring South Moor.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said at one stage Dodds overtook another vehicle at 76-miles per hour, on Tyne Road, which was subject of a 30-limit, and braked heavily to make swift turns into neighbouring streets.

Mr Baker said the chase moved onto de-restricted rural roads heading from Stanley, before entering nearby Craghead, where the limit returned to 30-mph.

Dodds made three attempts to make right turns, each time changing his mind and carrying on, until he finally gave up the pursuit and pulled over to the side of the road, where he was arrested.

When interviewed he said he “panicked”, knowing he had taken the vehicle without consent, as an unlicensed and insured driver.

The 39-year-old defendant, of Tyne Vale, Stanley, admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, and driving without a licence or insurance.

Mr Baker said Dodds’ only previous offences were all motoring related, but with no convictions since October 2008.

Adam Scott, for Dodds, said on the night of the offence he left, taking the keys to the car belonging to his ex-partner, at the time, to make the half-mile journey to buy cigarettes.

“He knows this crosses the custody threshold and realises the jeopardy he’s put himself in, he put members of the public in, on the night, and now put his family in.”

Mr Scott said Dodds knows he must either never attempt to drive again, or eventually pass his test.

But, Mr Scott failed to persuade Judge Simon Hickey to suspend the sentence.

Jailing him for eight months, Judge Hickey told the defendant: “This was an extremely poor piece of driving, at times at high speed, at 9pm on a Sunday evening.

“Thankfully no-one stepped out in front of you. It’s a miracle no-one was killed or injured. It’s clear you had numerous opportunities to stop. Why you didn’t, I simply don’t know.”

Dodds was also banned from driving for 22 months.