A MAN who drove through Blackburn at speeds of up to 110mph while being pursued by police has been jailed for 15 months.

Preston Crown Court heard that Richard Stableford did not realise at the time that he had been affected by taking an ecstasy tablet the previous evening.

He drove through several sets of red lights and went the wrong way down a one-way street before crashing through a fence and into a field.

Stableford, 21, of Long Acre, Bamber Bridge, Preston, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and not having insurance, was also banned for three years.

Judge Charles Mahon described the incident as an extremely serious example of dangerous driving.

He ordered that Stableford should take an extended test before getting his licence back.

Maisie Burke, prosecuting, said there had been an incident in the small hours in August last year at a service station in Preston New Road.

Stableford was followed by police, but failed to stop when officers activated emergency equipment.

He headed the wrong way down a one-way street, into King William Street, Blackburn, and went into other roads, speeding and failing to stop again for police.

The car stopped at lights on Yew Tree Drive, but then made off at speed.

For the last two miles of the pursuit, he was said to have been travelling at 80-110mph.

Around the junction of Preston New Road the vehicle skidded, hit a barrier and flew into the air. The car then crashed through a fence and ended up in a field.

Joe Boyd, defending, said the car belonged to another passenger.

The defendant had been asked to take over the driving.

"At the time he did not realise he was affected by taking at least one ecstasy tablets in the course of the evening," said Mr Boyd.