Danger driver stole brother-in-law's car then led police on high-speed chase between South Tyneside and Sunderland

Ian Duncan took the VW Tiguan after staying the night at the home of his relative.

Police spotted him later that day and tried to pull him over, but he put his foot down, reaching speeds of up to 70mph in a 30 zone.

The 33-year-old drove dangerously for between 20 and 25 miles between Sunderland and South Tyneside when the area was busy due to a football match, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Duncan, of Grindleford Court, South Shields, has now been jailed for ten months for offences including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and possessing drugs.

Prosecution barrister Jessica Slaughter said it was the morning of Saturday March 16 that Duncan stole the car.

Police spotted him in it at around 5.30pm that day and when they tried to pull him over, he sped off.

He drove on the wrong side of the road, against the flow of traffic, had a minor collision with a police car and ran through red lights.

Officers decided to abandon the pursuit believing it too dangerous and a police helicopter began following Duncan instead.

Just after 6pm, another PC saw Duncan leaving Ryhope, travelling 70mph in a 30 zone and going through red lights.

He drove over Wearmouth Bridge, through a no entry sign, against the flow of traffic and again went on the wrong side of the carriageway.

Duncan then travelled through Cleadon and into South Tyneside, during which he travelled over grass, mounted pavements and narrowly missed a woman who had been standing on the path.

He went on to overtake a lorry on the wrong side of the road, almost colliding with oncoming vehicles.

Duncan then went onto the wrong side of John Reid Road and police had to abort the chase again.

He abandoned the car on Newcastle Road just after 6.30pm and ran away but officers in the helicopter directed police to his whereabouts.

Miss Slaughter said: "The pursuit lasted for almost an hour and the route was 20 to 25 miles in residential areas.

"The police witnessed him driving with a total disregard for other road users and pedestrians."

At one point he picked up a passenger and dropped them off in South Shields.

The court heard he caused damage to a police car and a parked car which he pushed the police car into.

When he was arrested he was found to have a small amount of cannabis and a Kinder Egg containing amphetamine.

Duncan has 159 previous convictions, including a large number for driving offences, including four for dangerous driving.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and possessing cannabis and amphetamines

Judge Edward Bindloss told him he will be banned from driving for three years after his release.

He said: "This was a flagrant disregard for the safety of others, you put members of the public and the police at significant risk of harm."

Glenn Gatland, defending, claimed Duncan has "completely turned his life around" since the offence, in which nobody was hurt, and said the death of his mum had "brought him up short".

Mr Gatland said Duncan has Asperger's and ADHD and has "self-medicated" in the past.

He added: "He is making every attempt to lead a proper life and he is keen to avoid substance misuse."

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