A dangerous driver who "revelled in bad driving" and led police on a high-speed chase as he drove the wrong way down major Sunderland roads has been jailed for more than two years.
Connor Riddell, of Kelly Crescent in Sherburn, Durham, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to 11 charges, including eight driving offences.
The 23-year-old was charged with three counts of dangerous driving, five counts of driving while disqualified, possession of a controlled drug of Class B, handling stolen goods and taking a conveyance without authority.
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The court heard that Riddell was disqualified from driving in September 2020, but at around 2.20am on November 27, 2020, he was seen by police driving a grey Range Rover westbound on the A690.
Police followed him and directed the defendant to stop but he failed to do so and instead drove dangerously, reaching speeds of around 85mph in a 30mph zone.
He turned onto Silksworth Road, Sunderland, where he drove on the wrong side of the road and went around the roundabout the wrong way.
He continued on the wrong side of the road towards Doxford Park Way, driving at around 60mph in a 40mph zone, and again drove the wrong way around the roundabout, travelling towards the A19.
The court heard that Riddell was driving so dangerously that the police officer following him had to abort the pursuit.
He continued on to Durham Road where a second officer took up the chase while the defendant continued to drive dangerously.
Police deflated the tyres of the Range Rover using a police stinger device, but Riddell continued to drive southbound on the A19 until the deflated tyres forced him to stop.
When he was arrested, officers found a small tub of cannabis in the car and subsequent blood tests found the defendant was over the legal limit of the drug.
The court heard that the Range Rover belonged to his girlfriend's friend, who had lent it to her on the understanding that it was her who would be driving it.
Riddell was released under investigation but then became involved in a string of further driving offences over the course of January 2021.
The defendant was found to have driven while disqualified on January 1, 2 and 8 after police found videos on Riddell's mobile phone, which he had recorded of himself while behind the wheel.
During the hearing, Recorder Ian Mullarkey said: "The footage shows how you revelled in your bad driving."
The defendant also drove a stolen Jaguar in Houghton Le Spring on another occasion in January.
He failed to stop for police and drove away dangerously reaching speeds of 100mph as police pursued him.
The police helicopter later located the damaged vehicle abandoned in the Seaham area.
The defendant's fingerprints were found on the car's false number plates and his mobile phone was linked to its Bluetooth entertainment system leading to his arrest.
Vic Laffey, defending, said: "He is a young man who has never been in custody before and never had any particularly serious offences in his record before.
"He managed over the course of a short space of time to commit a number of serious offences during a number of weeks.
"He has made no attempt to deny responsibility and acknowledges there is no excuse for his behaviour.
"He appears to have been in a dark place at that time.
"He has managed to show over the course of the last 12 months that he is capable of keeping himself out of trouble."
Riddell was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment, is disqualified from driving for 52 months and must sit an extended driving test.
He must also pay a victim surcharge of £190.
Sentencing Riddell on January 24, Recorder Mullarkey said: "This represents an appalling catalogue of offending showing a complete disregard for the driving disqualification imposed on you."
He continued: "You repeatedly, seriously imperilled other road users."
