A DANGEROUS driver has avoided jail despite crashing into a wall while attempting to evade police.

Victor Hondo, who was disqualified from driving at the time, was spotted behind the wheel of a Ford Focus by officers patrolling in Hartford on the evening of April 26, earlier this year.

Seemingly on sighting the police, the 43-year-old left the main road, crossed the pavement and sped off over a grassed area.

Following an unsuccessful search of the estate, the officer waited at its only entrance for Hondo to emerge.

After a short pursuit, Hondo temporarily evaded the officers before he was located - after crashing into a wall at the junction of Bradburns Lane and Beechfield Gardens.

He was arrested quickly after attempting to flee on foot.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "The officer pulled out behind the vehicle and activates the blue lights and sirens to cause it to stop.

"The vehicle initially brakes, however, then makes off, accelerating and turning straight out into the main road without slowing or stopping to look for traffic.

"Continuing to accelerate along Chester Road, the vehicle headed towards a crossroads controlled by automatic traffic lights, where a red traffic light was clearly displayed, with traffic emerging from The Green. 

"The defendant has not slowed or stopped, he has continued straight through the red light causing other vehicles from The Green to stop. He swerved his vehicle to go through against the traffic, gone through another set of traffic lights, this time displaying a green light, and then turned left into Bradburns Lane. 

"The officer has negotiated the two sets of junctions carefully which has meant, when he turned into Bradburns Lane, the defendant's vehicle was out of sight.

"But after proceeding down Bradburns Lane, the officer locates the vehicle having recently mounted the kerb, crossed the pavement and crashed into a wall.

"The officer sees the defendant exit the drivers door and start to make off on foot, he was quickly detained and arrested a short time later."

Hondo was charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. A charge of failing to surrender to court bail was added when he did not attend Chester Crown Court on July 29.

Appearing at crown court on August 2, Hondo, of Beswicks Road, Northwich, pleaded guilty to the four charges.

Returning to court on Monday, October 14, Hondo was sentenced by judge Simon Berkson to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity and he handed an 18-month driving ban.