A DANGEROUS driver who took police on a high-speed chase in his father’s BMW has been jailed for six months.

Marc Keenan reached speeds of up to 80mph as he raced around the streets of Hartlepool after failing to pull over when he was spotted in the suspected stolen car.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Keenan’s father had reported the car stolen earlier in the day on March 17 last year.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said the 33-year-old refused to stop after police spotted him driving on Wynyard Road in the town before accelerating away.

He said the car was swerving around on the road as he reached speeds in excess of 80mph in a 30mph zones around Monarch Road, Kilmarnock Road and Rossmere Way.

“He failed to stop, instead increasing speed and what followed was a relatively short but at times fast police chase," he said.

"The route went back and forth across various roads repeating various around Hartlepool – he was swerving back and forth along the road. At times, aside from one or two points, there was very minimal traffic.

"When the vehicle returned to Wynyard Road for a second time he increased speed massively and this time at speeds of up to 70mph."

The police called off the chase when he reached speeds of 80mph and was involved in a narrow miss with another vehicle.

Mr Pettengell said the car was later found abandoned and the defendant was later found at an address hiding in the wardrobe.

Keenan, formerly of Hartlepool, appeared at court via a videolink to Durham Prison after pleading guilty to a single charge of dangerous driving from March 17 last year.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said his client had missed his sister's funeral earlier this month as he had been recalled on licence following his latest motoring offence.

Judge Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC sentenced Keenan to six months in prison and banned him from driving for 15 months for his 'serious dangerous driving' which had put other people's safety at risk.

Keenan said: "I'm never going to drive again – I'm never going to get inside a car again."

The judge replied: "I'm very pleased to hear that, it will be a very great comfort to others I'm sure."