A HIGH-SPEED driver was so determined to outrun police he continued without a tyre until his car crashed, a court heard.

Gavin Smith was behind the wheel of a stolen Volkswagen Passat which had been seen at the scene of a burglary in Darlington.

Police tried to stop the vehicle as it approached nearby Middleton-St-George on the A67 in the early hours of June 21.

But during a pursuit onto the A66, Smith reached speeds of up to 110mph before coming off at Eaglescliffe.

The car went straight over a roundabout, suffered a blow-out, but carried on until the tyre came off completely and crashed.

Before the impact, one of Smith’s passengers opened a door and rolled out, prosecutor Nigel Soppitt told Teesside Crown Court.

Earlier there had been a failed attempt to break into a vets surgery, where Smith’s footprint was found.

Smith, 25, from Darlington, admitted burglary, dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle-taking and driving without insurance or a licence.

He was yesterday jailed for 14 months and banned from the roads for 19 months.

Jonathan Walker, mitigating, said the shop-fitter was “a troubled young man, who has been troubled from a very young age”.

Although Smith has previous convictions, he had been out of trouble since 2013 when he “buckled down” after having a daughter.