HE did not have a driving licence, has been disqualified numerous times and was only recently out of prison.

But that did not stop a Southampton dad getting behind the wheel of a car and leading police on a pursuit through Southampton at speeds of more than 70mph.

Sean Bray went through three red lights and forced terrified drivers off the road as he tried to evade police who were trying to pull him over after they saw him driving without his headlights on.

The 24-year-old was only stopped when he lost control of the MG car he was driving, spinning it 180 degrees and skidding backwards on to the pavement and into a road traffic sign.

Despite the crash Bray continued to rev the engine, prosecutor Nick Robinson told Southampton Crown Court.

Bray, of Howards Grove, Shirley, Southampton, admitted driving dangerously, driving without a licence and driving without insurance following the incident that happened on November 28.

The court heard how he was clocked driving at speeds of 70mph along Northam Road, and seen racing through the red lights at the junction with Britannia Road.

At a previous hearing the court was told how one driver was so concerned that they tried to mount the pavement to get out of Bray’s way after he tried “nudging”

his way through the traffic.

Mitigating, Richard Martin said that Bray, who was released from prison in August, has a long standing addiction to drink and drugs that had never been properly addressed.

Mr Martin said Bray had permission to drive the car and was on his way to help a friend who was also in the grip of a drug addiction.

Despite this, Mr Martin said Bray harboured ambitions to go into the motor industry.

“He recognises he wants to enjoy that interest in a legal way,” said Mr Martin as he urged the court to consider a community order that included help drug addiction. However, Recorder Mott jailed him for 14 months, disqualified him from driving for 18 months and handed him 14 points on his licence.