A BANNED driver was filmed by a police helicopter as he

drove a stolen car through crash barriers and along a road

closed for repairs.

A court heard that Christopher Taylor, who had 10 previous

driving convictions – including two for dangerous driving – had

been freed from prison only days earlier.

Derby Crown Court was shown a video of the car being driven

by Taylor, 23, who got into it outside Alfreton's Station

Hotel, on May 13.

The court heard that it had often gone on to the wrong side

of the road and, on one occasion, when it mounted a pavement,

it had smashed the wing mirror of an unmarked police car.

It also went under a bridge, which had been closed for road

repairs, causing £400 damage by smashing crash barriers.

Finally, Taylor, of Milton Avenue, Alfreton, left the car in

the middle of the road in Pinxton and hid in a nearby pub, said

Faye Mellor, prosecuting. She said: “At the time, he was

disqualified and had no insurance.”

The Alfa Romeo was later written off by insurers because it

would have needed £5,000 worth of repairs to its engine sump,

windscreen and driver's door.

When Taylor was questioned by police, he told them he had

been asked to drive it to Pinxton “for a small amount of

money”, but did not know it had been stolen.

Dominic Shelley, defending, said Taylor had taken the offer

to drive the car out of desperation.

He said: “He had shortly been released from custody,

tragically with no money, nowhere to go, nothing to do.

“He found it very difficult to find work and saw the

opportunity to make some quick money when asked to drive the

car.”

Taylor admitted aggravated vehicle-taking, having no

insurance and driving while disqualified.

Recorder Sean Smith gave him a one-year prison sentence,

suspended for two years, and ordered him to obey a nightly

curfew for six months.

Taylor, who had two previous convictions for dangerous

driving and eight for driving while disqualified or without a

licence, was also put on probation for two years, including 18

months of drug rehabilitation, and banned from driving for a

further two years

The recorder told him: “I think this is the best chance of

getting you sorted out.

“I am taking a chance with you.”