A YOUNG banned driver, who sped off from police when requested to stop, became the latest errant motorist to fall foul of a judge’s dim view to such offences.

Patrick Raymond Campbell was spotted at the wheel of a maroon-coloured Mercedes Benz estate, which pulled out sharply onto Station Road, West Auckland, County Durham, about mid-day on March 10.

Durham Crown Court heard that, with a police car following, the Mercedes suddenly braked, before stopping.

Campbell ignored the police vehicle’s illuminating lights and drove off, travelling well above the 30mph limit in a semi residential area in West Auckland.

He overtook a number of vehicles, narrowly missing an oncoming lorry, and at one stage the police car reached 88mph as it tried to keep pace.

Tony Moore, prosecuting, said the officer decided to abandon the chase on safety grounds when Campbell drove onto a track, used by dog walkers, and up a grassy hill.

Another police car took up the chase, but came across the Mercedes abandoned in a field, having crashed through through a metal fence.

Mr Moore said Campbell was arrested 12 days later over both the driving incident and the theft of £300-worth of diesel in drums taken from a Newton Aycliffe transport company compound, on February 16.

He denied both offences, but, after identity evidence was put to him, a month later, he accepted being the driver.

Mr Moore said Campbell, who was granted bail, then gave false details to police who stopped another car, in which he was one of three occupants, on June 28.

Campbell failed to attend a hearing before magistrates in mid-July and was “at liberty” for three weeks until his arrest in Lancashire in early August.

The 22-year-old, formerly of St Helen Auckland, but living in a flat in Blackpool when arrested, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police, theft, and obstructing police.

Chris Baker, mitigating, said he accepted it would be the defendant’s first custodial sentence.

Jailing him for a total of 28 months, Judge Christopher Prince told Campbell: “I’m told you’re aware of the stance this court takes to those who engage in police chases.

“It’s to the credit of the local media, particularly The Northern Echo, which has repeatedly reported the five-word message this court sends out in such cases: ‘Stop, or go to prison’.

“You didn’t stop, therefore you will be going to prison.”

Campbell was also banned from driving for a further 26 months.