A DISQUALIFIED driver who ignored red lights and drove the wrong way round a roundabout during a police chase in a stolen car is now behind bars.

Luke Jones, of Helsby Street, was sentenced to 19 months in prison at Warrington Crown Court on Wednesday, August 17, after he was convicted of a series of driving offences.

The court heard how detectives were investigating the theft of a Ford Focus car – which was stolen from outside a club on Howley Lane on July 13 – when they discovered CCTV footage of the 21-year-old.

Matthew Corbett-Jones, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was seen on July 16 at 8pm when the vehicle was taken to the BP Station on the Europa Boulevard.

“The defendant was identified by CCTV getting out of the car and filling up with £15 worth of diesel and driving off without attempting to pay for the fuel.

“At that time he was a disqualified driver and so the vehicle was not insured.”

Days later, on July 18, the car was picked up by automatic number plate recognition equipment at 9pm on the M6 northbound near to Preston.

Officers travelling in a marked police car signalled for the vehicle to pull over but these requests were ignored.

The driver started to speed up and he was seen driving through red lights and the wrong way round roundabouts.

The driver and the passenger got out of the car and tried to flee in the direction of Preston city centre but officers chased them.

Jones was later detained where he was charged with aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, making off without payment and driving without insurance.

Martin Walshe, defending, said the defendant admits that he ‘keeps with the wrong crowd’, which has led to his criminal record.

Judge Tina Landale, sentencing, also ruled that he should serve a driving ban lasting two years and nine months after she spoke of her surprise that he ‘did not cause a collision or cause damage to life and limb’.