Anthony Baxter was spotted behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza in the early hours of June 26 in Wakefield city centre.

A check revealed the vehicle had no insurance so officers decided to stop the car.

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Georgina Coade prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court, police reinforcements and the West Yorkshire force helicopter were called in after Baxter drove through a red light.

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After he drove on to the M1 northbound other units were deployed and three police cars positioned themselves to the front, rear and side intending to box him in and gradually slow him down.

But as they slowed him on to the hard shoulder the Subaru rammed the car ahead of him.

He then drove off and on to the M62 reaching a speed of 120mph as officers drove at 140mph trying to catch him.

About two miles further on they saw debris coming off his vehicle.

The car eventually pulled over and stopped. Baxter was found to have a passenger in the car with him.

The court heard he was disqualified for dangerous driving in 2007, drove while disqualified twice in 2008 and in February last year was given a suspended jail sentence for two further offences of driving while disqualified.

Baxter, 24, of Hornsea, was jailed for 22 months after he admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

Banning Baxter for four years Judge Kerry Macgill said he had thrown away the chance given to him and had put himself, his passenger and police officers at risk .

The judge added: "I do not accept that was not deliberate."

"Whether you stopped because debris was coming off your vehicle or stopped of your own volition does not matter for these purposes, this was an appalling piece of driving."

John Sleightholme, for Baxter, said he was obsessed with cars "and at times behaves foolishly and irresponsibly."

He was persuaded by another young man to drive to Wakefield and had panicked when the police began to follow.

He had lost his job in a garage after his previous disqualification and had set up his own premises as a mechanic paint sprayer and that business would be at risk if he was jailed.