A BANNED motorcyclist led police on a high-speed chase on roads around Durham and surrounding countryside.

George Swainston drove a Yamaha RI machine with a pillion passenger on board at speeds of up to 125mph in an attempt to shake off a pursuing police patrol vehicle.

But, on the afternoon of last October 2, Swainston and his passenger abandoned the machine in Willowtree Avenue, in the Gilesgate Moor area.

Durham Crown Court was told that officers with tracker dogs found the passenger hiding in a garden in nearby Aspen Close.

Swainston was eventually traced to an address in Hawthorn Crescent, and was still in the same clothing he was wearing while riding the motorbike.

Jennifer Haigh, prosecuting, said when interviewed he denied being the driver, and the following day a friend, Ian Fettes, voluntarily attended Durham City Police Station claiming he was riding the motorcycle and drove off as he did not have his documents.

But Miss Haigh said officers became suspicious as he did not seem to know many details of the chase and appeared to have little knowledge of riding a motorbike.

Swainston eventually admitted buying the bike for £4,000.

Xanthi Craddock, in mitigation, said as he was disqualified from driving, Swainston had "stupidly" asked Fettes to take the blame for the incident.

Stuart Graham, for Fettes, said he acted out of misguided loyalty to his friend, and did not benefit from his actions.

Swainston, 25, of Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road, Durham, admitted dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for 21 months.

Fettes, also 25, of Kell Crescent, Sherburn Road, who admitted perverting the course of justice, received a six-month sentence.