A FORMER jockey was behind bars last night after he admitted taking part in a high-speed vehicle chase with a child in his car.

Philip Urwin drove the vehicle from West Auckland to Evenwood, County Durham, at speeds well above the national limit.

A 12-year-old boy who was a passenger in the car felt scared and sick during the journey, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The court was told Urwin was travelling at 85 mph in a 60mph zone.

Police had spotted him in the car and pulled him over but the 25-year-old sped off and was pursued by officers before crashing the vehicle in Evenwood.

He had tried to grab the hand of the 12-year-old boy to make a getaway but eventually abandoned him to make his own escape following the accident on May 28.

When interviewed by police, Urwin, of Front Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, said he could not remember telling the child to take his seatbelt off while in the car.

Aisha Wadoodi, in mitigation, said her client had previously had a prosperous career as a jockey but he had suffered a serious head injury that had affected his personality and he had to abandon his dreams.

His brother had also died in a house fire, which had affected him.

Jailing him for 15 months for dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, Judge John Walford, said Urwin had put the child and the public at risk.

He said: "You have a bad driving record and a bad record generally.

"You have a conviction for dangerous driving on July 10, 2002 when you drove in circumstances similar to this offence.

"You have two convictions for driving with excess alcohol.

"Because we need to protect the public and the offence is so serious, only a custodial sentence will suffice."