AN Ellesmere Port man caught driving while disqualified for the seventh time led police on a pursuit through a busy housing estate.

James Monaghan, 27, of Singleton Road, appeared at Chester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Altcourse on Friday, September 4, having pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was jailed for a total of 17 months.

Prosecuting, Andrew McGuinness said it was 11.55am when police spotted a white Vauxhall Insignia on Overpool Road and the car accelerated away from them.

Police dashcam footage played out in the court showed the Vauxhall driving at speeds of up to 40mph in the built-up housing estate.

At one point, the car drove on to a grass verge at speed to lose the police car, leading Judge Simon Berkson to remark: "I'm not sure that's a road."

While Monaghan, the driver of the car, had evaded police at that point, the vehicle was later found parked and using ANPR technology it was found the car had also been around Chester city centre that day.

The vehicle had belonged to Monaghan's brother, who was unaware the car had been used.

Monaghan was arrested and initially denied the offences, but following a night's stay in custody, accepted what he had done.

He had 23 previous convictions for 59 offences, six of them for disqualified driving and six for aggravated vehicle taking.

He received a four-year driving ban in February 2018.

Defending, Chris Hunt said there had been no accident and nobody was hurt during the dangerous driving.

Monaghan had seen a police officer behind him while behind the wheel, panicked, and drove off.

Judge Berkson told Monaghan: "I have been able to watch the way you drove the Vauxhall Insignia through a housing estate in Ellesmere Port in the middle of the day when people were around, and ended up ditching the car in a way to escape.

"This was an appalling piece of driving.

"The prison sentences in the past have clearly not been sufficient for you, continuing to drive cars in a dangerous fashion."

As well as the 17-month prison sentence, Monaghan was banned from driving for four years from the time he is released from custody.

He must pass an extended test if he is to be allowed to drive legally.