A DANGEROUS drink driver who necked eight pints of lager and sparked a police chase through Kidderminster has been jailed after flouting a driving ban for the twelfth time.

David Baldwin sped away from police in Comberton Hill, Kidderminster when they activated their blue lights, drove on a pedestrian only path and uprooted two metal bollards.

The 38-year-old had already admitted dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance when he fell to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.

Baldwin of Sebright Road, Kidderminster, had admitted the offences at magistrates court on March 19 but failed to appear at another court hearing on April 27, later telling a judge he had been 'on the run'.

Simon Hanns, prosecuting, said police became aware of Baldwin, who was driving his disabled passenger's Honda, in New Road, Kidderminster at 2.36am on March 17.

However, Baldwin accelerated when officers activated blue lights in Comberton Hill and continued into St George's Terrace and into Offmore Lane before he drove on a pedestrian only footpath and destroyed two metal bollards as he entered Wordsworth Crescent.

Officers attended Nash Close, where the car was registered, and Baldwin was arrested after a short foot chase. A breath test revealed 58mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35mcg.

"He told police he had consumed in excess of eight pints of lager" said Mr Hanns.

Baldwin had 40 convictions for 90 offences dating back to 1996. Baldwin had 11 previous convictions for driving while disqualified, one previous excess alcohol matter and 15 convictions for driving without insurance.

Sabhia Pathan, defending, said Baldwin decided to drive when he saw his disabled friend heading towards the driver's side of the car as both left a nightclub where they had been socialising.

Miss Pathan said: "He was seen by the police and what ensued was blind panic when he drove off, hitting the bollards. He concedes, in hindsight, it was a very stupid thing to do."

She described him as having had a 'troubled life' and 'a cocaine addiction'.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said: "It's quite obvious every way of dealing with you in the past for such offences has provided no deterrent or education whatsoever."

The judge told Baldwin he had 'put his foot down' in a residential area when the blue lights were illuminated and 'took no account' that there may be pedestrians walking around after a night out.

Judge Cartwright also said Baldwin had put the safety of his disabled passenger at risk.

He added: "Any further injury would have made his situation all the worse."

The judge jailed him for 18 months and banned him from driving for three years. This disqualification was extended by nine months so it will begin after Baldwin is released after serving half of his 18 month jail sentence.

Baldwin must also complete an extended driving retest and pay a victim surcharge which will be calculated administratively.