A DRINK-DRIVER who raced around a housing estate at night with no lights was jailed yesterday.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Michael Knapp, 28, drove the Rover 600 car at speeds of up to 70mph around the Red House Estate, in Sunderland, in June last year after drinking heavily.

During a police chase, Knapp forced three pedestrians to jump out of the way as he sped past.

The court heard how Knapp was finally cornered at a dead-end and was caught by police.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, told the court that, after his arrest, Knapp refused to give a breath test at Southwick police station.

She went on to say Knapp had been out on licence for only four weeks when police caught him.

Paul Cross, in mitigation, said Knapp accepted that he had been driving in a dangerous way.

Knapp, of Ribble Road, Red House, Sunderland, was sentenced to nine months in prison and banned from driving for three years.

He was also ordered to serve six months from his outstanding licence, when he was sentenced in September 2001 for attempted burglary and other driving matters.