A banned driver who drove on to an Ipswich park during a police chase has been jailed for eight months.

Police officers began pursuing Shaun Webber after seeing him driving a BMW in Bramford Road in the Suffolk town.

During the pursuit of the BMW, the officers had activated the sirens and blue flashing lights on their car, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Eleanor Sheerin, prosecuting, said Webber had accelerated away from the police car along Yarmouth Road at a speed of between 45mph and 55mph in the 30mph speed limit zone.

He had driven along West End Road before turning into Bibb Way, where he lost control of the car and drove up a kerb and uprooted a bollard – causing about £200 worth of damage.

Miss Sheerin said Webber had then skidded on to Alderman Road park, near Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium, and had reversed at speed before then driving along Constantine Road.

It was at this point that the pursuing police car abandoned the chase for Webber's vehicle because it was becoming dangerous.

The BMW Webber was behind the wheel of was found abandoned on a nearby river towpath and he was later arrested.

Webber, 32, of Crown Lane, Harwich, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at Ipswich Crown Court.

In addition to being jailed, he was banned from driving for 40 months.

Richard Kelly, for Webber, said his client, who has 98 previous convictions, was currently serving a three year prison sentence imposed last month for offences of violence.

The eight month jail term will be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on Webber last month.