A DISQUALIFIED driver who drove at almost twice the speed limit as he sped away from a pursuing police car in residential areas of Carlisle has been jailed for 13 months.

At the city's crown court, Judge Michael Hayton QC told 27-year-old Kristian Scott that it had been pure good fortune that nobody was injured during his hair-raising two mile late-night journey through the city.

The defendant, of Bower Street, Carlisle, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and failing to stop when required to by a police officer.

The court heard how police saw a white Renault Kangoo van driving erratically from Petteril Bank Road onto London Road at 10.45pm on June 14.

Officers signalled for the driver to stop but Scott made off at speed.

His high-speed attempt to evade capture took him along numerous residential streets, including Mallyclose Drive, Hopeshill Drive, Highwood Crescent, London Road, Cumwhinton Road, Edgehill Road and Lingmoor Way.

At times, he was driving at more than 50mph in a 30mph zone.

He also raced through junctions and drove on the wrong side of the road, at times taking corners so quickly that his car lost traction on the road.

The van later stopped on Lingmoor Way where Scott and his passenger ran off.

The defendant was found nearby.

After the court hearing today, Constable Peter Ross said: “We hope this serves as a warning to other motorists who think they can get away such criminality.

“Scott was driving at high speed and dangerously in a build-up residential area with no regards for others and could have caused a collision resulting in the loss of someone’s life.

“He knew when he got behind the wheel that he was disqualified from driving so took the decision to speed away from police officers.”

Scott was also banned from driving for three years and told he must sit an extended retest.