A Lockleaze man with 20 convictions for driving while disqualified tried to drive off from police before crashing.
Banned Patrick Adamson was spotted in Bristol driving someone else's Renault Megane, Bristol Crown Court heard.
After leading police on a dangerous, 13-minute high speed pursuit he came to an abrupt stop when he left the road and crashed into a tree.
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Adamson, 41, of Bonnington Walk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, while disqualified and uninsured, in March last year.
The recorder Mr Marcus Pilgerstorfer QC jailed him for 16 months.
He told Adamson: "You really tested the expertise of the police pursuers who were put at risk as well as other road users.
"It was only by pure chance and good fortune there were no serious harm caused to any person."
Adamson was banned from driving for 38 months and ordered to take an extended driving test.
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Ieuan Callagher, prosecuting, said police spotted Adamson at 11.32pm on March 8 last year in Bristol.
He was followed as he contravened a one-way street, went through a red traffic light at 40mph, overtook dangerously, caused motorist to swerve and drove down 30mph Muller Road at 80mph.
At one stage he turned his headlights off, the court heard, before he drove into Gainsborough Square, mounted the pavement and hit a small tree,
After being arrested, in which police used a Taser device, he was taken to Southmead Hospital for treatment to an injury.
As a result he was not tested for alcohol or drug driving.
Matthew Comer, defending, said: "This was a bad case of dangerous driving.
"It is fortunate no-one barring Mr Adamson was injured.
"He panicked when he realised the police were trying to stop him.
"He realises that that's no excuse."
Mr Comer said his client had been blighted by drug addiction since he was a teenager but had detoxified after a residential course.
Mr Comer told the court: "He realises that being addicted to any type of drug is a miserable existence.
"He recognises that.
"He would like to be completely drug free."
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