A BANNED driver who led police on a high speed chase later told officers he had had a "good nine or 10 pints," a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Terence Maughan, 33, had earlier been ordered off the road for dangerous and drink driving.

Jailing the defendant for 10 months, a judge told him the court had no alternative but to put him behind bars, adding that it was the defendant's third time before the court on charges of a similar nature.

Maughan, of Ivy Crescent, Nelson, admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was banned for two years and must take an extended retest.

Anthony Cross, defending, said custody was inevitable and rather unusually, Maughan would welcome it for a short duration to rid himself of his addiction.

Mr Cross said the driving was over a relatively short distance and nobody was injured in the chase.

The barrister urged the court to impose as short a custodial sentence as was consistent with its public duty.