A man’s multiple health conditions helped to spare him an immediate prison sentence for what a judge described as, “top of the range dangerous driving”.

Stephen Burridge was subject of a prolonged pursuit by police while riding a motorcycle in Peterlee, County Durham, on Friday, March 17 this year.

He was only brought to a halt when the Kawasaki Ninja he was riding passed over a police-laid ‘stinger’ tyre-deflator, having earlier managed to evade another such device during the 24-minute chase.

The 42-year-old defendant, of Station Road West, Trimdon Station, was finally sentenced at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, September 20) having admitted charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance at a hearing before magistrates in County Durham in June.

Read more: Motorcyclist said to have ridden dangerously on roads in Peterlee

He subsequently appeared before Durham Crown Court, but sentence was adjourned by Recorder Andrew Dallas to enable Burridge's lawyers to obtain medical records to outline the various conditions he was said to be suffering from, at the time.

The case was finally concluded at a hearing at Teesside on Wednesday afternoon, after lengthy medical notes were produced for the court, as well as a reference from a community action regeneration group, with whom the defendant has been involved.

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Benjamin Bell, for Burridge, told Recorder Dallas that the defendant has suffered long-standing body pain with various symptoms including a herniated disc and hip fracture, while he has also been treated for deep vein thrombosis and was most-recently admitted to hospital due to vomiting.

He has been on medication and was said to be trying to assist doctors to come up with a long-term diagnosis.

Mr Bell confirmed that three of the defendant’s siblings all died in the same year.

“Remarkably, as he said to the probation officer preparing his pre-sentence report, he’s been told whatever is wrong with him, was not what was wrong with his siblings.”

Recorder Dallas told Burridge: “It’s a very serious case, with a starting point of 21 months, but with credit for an early plea, it takes it down to 14 months.

“Due to your medical conditions, however, I’m prepared to suspend it.

“I have to sentence you for what you now accept and realise was a serious, top of the range, dangerous driving police chase.

“People who drive in that way always get prison sentences, and, yours is a bad case.

“It went on for 24 minutes, which is a long time in a police chase.

“The amount of danger you posed not only to yourself, to the public and, of course, to the police officers who were trying to apprehend you, was very considerable and prolonged.

“You were on a motorbike riding at grossly excessive speed, going the wrong way around roundabouts, undertaking and dangerously overtaking other vehicles, and, at one point, hitting the wing mirror of another vehicle, before escaping down side alleys.

“You eluded one ‘stinger’ before being caught by another device.

“If you had denied it and been convicted by a jury it would have been 21 months.

“You are 42 and have a poor record in the past, although I accept your recent convictions have been few, or none, so there’s a definite change, albeit this was a severe let-down by you, exacerbated by the fact you were uninsured at the time.”

Record Dallas told the defendant: “There’s only one reason why I have considered you don’t need to serve that sentence immediately, and that is your medical condition.

“I’m satisfied you do suffer from multiple and disabling physical conditions, quite apart from the mental health difficulties which may have contributed to your poor decision to try to get away from the police on that occasion.

“On this occasion, I’m prepared to suspend that sentence, of 14 months, for two years.”

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But the Recorder told Burridge he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days working with the Probation Service, aimed at helping him stay out of trouble in future.

Recorder Dallas warned the defendant, however, that any breaches by further offending, or failing to comply with the order, would result in him being sent to prison.

Burridge was also banned from driving for three years and must then pass an extended re-test to enable him to drive lawfully in future.