A banned driver ended up in a police chase after he tried to escape from drug dealers he owed money to, a court heard.

Charlie Elliott climbed behind the wheel of his disabled girlfriend’s BMW after she had driven him to a drug treatment centre in Chatham and could not manoeuvre the car.

But he took off when he saw two men who wanted cash from him, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Elliott, of Albury Close, Lordswood, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance and failing to stop.

Prosecutor Catharine Donnelly said police had seen the 32-year-old in the car in Myrtle Crescent, Weeds Wood, on August 10.

He then drove off “aggressively” followed at speed by the officers. He travelled along Walderslade Road and headed in the direction of the M2.

At one point he drove on the wrong side of the road at speed. He was eventually stopped and arrested.

Miss Donnelly said Elliott was in 2002 convicted of dangerous driving and was disqualified for 18 months. He had also been jailed for 30 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

He was ordered to take an extended test before being allowed to drive again, but had not done so.

The court heard Elliott’s girlfriend had health problems and they lived in her late mother’s home, which was mortgage-free.

Told that Elliott was desperate to stay out of jail, Judge Michael Carroll said: “The best way is to stop driving while disqualified and driving dangerously.”

Jailing him for 16 months and banning him for a further two years, the judge added: “The only mitigation is your guilty pleas.”