A man has received a second prison sentence for dangerous driving in three years, following a police chase that took in a stretch of the A19 in County Durham.

Disqualified driver Connor Philip Mitchell was at the wheel of a Seat Leon which came to the attention of officers in a patrol vehicle on Wellfield Road, Wingate, at about 10pm on January 10 this year.

Durham Crown Court heard that Mitchell was subject of a 61-month ban from the roads as part of a prison sentence totalling 51 months, imposed in the same building in June 2021 for causing serious injury by dangerous driving and possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

Knowing he should not be on the road, he initially slowed for police to make the officers think he was about to come to a halt, but then accelerated away at speeds of 70mph-plus.

The Northern Echo: Connor Mitchell was given a further 12-month prison sentence for dangerous driving at Durham Crown

Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said a police officer approaching the Leon when it slowed could have been placed at risk of being knocked over, while Mitchell then flouted two red lights potentially putting other road users in harm's way.

Mr Lonsdale said there was also evidence of Mitchell veering from side to side on the A19 itself.

When he was arrested, having been "boxed in" when pulled up on chevrons on the road, he prevaricated over giving a blood sample, as he was initially denying being the driver of the Leon, and eventually refused to cooperate further with the test.

Mitchell, 25, of Pinedale Drive, South Hetton, admitted charges of dangerous driving, failing to provide a breath specimen, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Mr Lonsdale said the circumstances of the conviction at the court, in 2021, involved him frightening a horse being ridden on a footpath as he raced past.

It caused the 12-year-old rider to fall from the horse onto the bonnet of his Audi A3 car, upon which she was carried for a short distance before sliding off and breaking her collar bone in the fall.

When he was eventually arrested, Mitchell was also found to be in possession of bags of cocaine, having decamped the car.

The Northern Echo:

Mr Lonsdale said the defendant was released from prison in July 2023 from that sentence, but his disqualification does not end until June 2026.

As he was also recalled to prison on the 2021 matter after his arrest in January, he may not even conclude that sentence until August next year.

Andrew Finlay, in mitigation, said relating to the January incident, Mitchell had been at a friend’s house and was attacked by the girlfriend of the man he was visiting.

Mr Finlay said as his mental health was, “not good at the time”, he left, driving as he did.

He said the defendant’s psychiatric difficulties have affected his response to “adverse situations”.

Mr Finlay said the dangerous element of the defendant’s driving was only over about a minute-and-a-half and it did not appear other motorists had to take evasive action as a result.

Judge Jo Kidd said the defendant falls to be sentenced for what she described as, “appalling driving”.

“At the time, in January, you had only been released a few months since the previous summer from a sentence for similar offending and you were also driving while disqualified.

“When you were arrested you failed to provide a specimen and had no insurance.

“Fortunately, it was a relatively short-lived pursuit, but it would have been clear to you they were going to stop you.

“You had moved slowly forward as if to trick them (the police officers) and then put your foot down.

“Another police car became involved and you were boxed in on the A19.”

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Judge Kidd said “a significant aggravating feature” was the defendant’s previous conviction.

Having read a background report, Judge Kidd said she took into account the defendant’s psychiatric problems, including issues with ADHD and a diagnosis of PTSD, and she imposed a 12-month prison sentence plus a further 18-month driving disqualification.

Mitchell is already subject to a requirement to sit an extended re-test should he wish to drive, lawfully, in future once the ban lapses.