Belfast Crown Court heard that just six weeks after being released from Magilligan Prison following a five year term for a robbery, police tried to stop the Ford Escort car 26-year-old Dennis Gregg McClean was driving on the Ravenhill Road on November 21 last year but that when they switched on their lights and siren, he sped off.

Prosecuting lawyer Ian Tannahill told the court that during the pursuit, McClean, from Johnston Park in Carrowdore, ran through red lights before crossing the King’s Bridge driving against the one-way system before crashing into the BMW causing £3,000 of damage.

McClean was arrested and during police questioning, “made admissions” and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Defence lawyer Neil Moore conceded it had been an “appalling piece of driving” on McClean’s part.

He said the offence was aggravated by the fact that he had been on probation at the time of the offence.

Jailing McClean, Judge Derick Rogers revealed that he had a total of 153 previous convictions including 53 for driving offences and that over the past number of years, he has been “constantly and continually in custody”.

McClean was also banned from driving for five years.