A DANGEROUS driver who embarked on two 'horrendous' high-speed police chases in futile bids to escape arrest has been jailed.

A judge said that Robert Vaughan's driving had 'risked the lives' of road users in the two separate incidents, the second of which took place after he was banned from the roads.

The 24-year-old of Saxton Road, Abingdon admitted two counts of dangerous driving, one of driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Outlining the case at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday prosecutor Cathy Olliver said there had been two separate incidents, both involving police pursuits.

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The first took place shortly before midnight on January 1 in Abingdon.

Police saw an uninsured Vauxhall Astra driving past, and officers tried to stop the vehicle using their blue lights.

Instead the car - driven by Vaughan - drove off and a police chase ensued around various roads across Abingdon.

During the pursuit he reached speeds of up to 70mph in the town centre, crossed multiple red lights and later drove without his lights switched on, before crashing into a parked car.

After his arrest he was handed an interim driving ban before he was to be sentenced.

Despite the ban he was caught driving again in the early hours of April 14 in Banbury.

Spotted by police Vaughan again drove off and during that chase he was followed to Kidlington and his tyres had to be punctured by police 'stop sticks.'

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On both occasions he had passengers in the car with him.

In mitigation defence barrister Peter Du Feu said that his client had a 'fascination for cars.'

He added that Vaughan was 'extremely lucky' not to be facing more serious charges for the driving and that he was on the spectrum for autism.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said: "You are here to be sentenced for two pieces of really horrendous driving.

"You risked the lives of your passengers and you risked the lives of other road users."

She added it was 'nothing short of a miracle' that he didn't hit anybody and said: "You knew that what you were doing on these two occasions was wrong.

"You drove in a way which was thoroughly dangerous."

Vaughan was jailed for a total of 15 months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and six months and must pay a statutory victim surcharge.