A SUICIDAL father-of-three, who drove at 130mph after taking 150 paracetemols, has been jailed.

Three police cars were written-off during attempts to stop Stephen Arnold during a ten mile pursuit.

The married 38-year-old had just swallowed the tablets in front of a woman who had just ended a "volatile" seven-year affair with him. He also rammed her car.

He then sped off in his Ford Maverick 4x4 from the village of Stainton, near Middlesbrough, reaching 100mph on the A174, then onto the A19 southbound where his speed increased to 115mph, said Martina Connolly, prosecuting.

He then slowed down to perform a U-turn then drove northbound up to 130mph to avoid tailing police cars.

Video footage of the chase on June 29 captured from an air support helicopter was played to Teesside Crown Court.

As four police cars closed in on Arnold, he twice rammed into the back of one, spinning it 90 degrees.

He hit two more police vehicles, one of which collided with a fourth police car. All four vehicles were extensively damaged - and three of those were written off.

The drama ended in a central reservation. Officers had to remove Arnold with force from his vehicle and sprayed him with CS gas.

He was then taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, for a drug overdose.

Four police officers were treated for injuries - one had a broken finger.

Arnold, of Rottingdene, Roseworth, Stockton, admitted dangerous driving and two counts of damaging property - one being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Jailing him for 18 months, Judge Peter Bowers said: "The high-speed chase we've watched is the sort of thing we often see on television.

"I've got to send a message out that that sort of driving will not be tolerated."

He told Arnold, who was also banned from driving for three years: "The next time you want to commit suicide, find somewhere quiet to do it."

Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said Arnold had a mental breakdown thinking he had "made a complete hash of life" with his wife, "mistress" and children all against him and his business failing.

He was treated for depression and counselled for anger management at a mental health unit of the University Hospital of North Tees.

He committed the crimes on a day release, when he decided to end his life.

"He wasn't thinking straight," he added.

Mr Soppitt said it was an isolated incident, Arnold was sorry, the affair was over and his wife was taking him back.

A report described Arnold as unable to comprehend the seriousness and possible consequences of his actions.

Arnold had followed the woman in the 4x4 two weeks after she broke up with him.

He had phoned and texted her and threatened to kill himself, the court was told.

He took the tablets in front of her, shouted obscenities and twice bumped his vehicle into her Renault Clio.

She was forced to hide in a nearby garden before the first police vehicle arrived.

In the chase, he was not trying to harm anyone but to make sure the "poison" took effect before anyone could save him.