A banned driver who hurtled along Oxford's ring road at speeds of up to 100mph was jailed for nine months yesterday, writes Phil Clee.

Gary Peck, 32, a former national judo champion, drove his BMW through two red lights dodging rush-hour traffic while being pursued by an unmarked police car.

Oxford Crown Court heard that Peck, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, was finally caught when he tried to drive down a footpath and was stopped by pedestrian barriers. A plea for probation was dismissed by Judge Harold Wilson. Sentencing Peck to nine-months for dangerous driving, plus a concurrent term of three months for driving while disqualified, he told him that such a ruling would "send out the wrong message".

He banned Peck for three more years with a ruling that he take an extended driving test before regaining his licence. He had been banned for three years last December. Judge Wilson did not impose a separate penalty for driving without insurance.

Peck had admitted the offences at Oxford Magistrates' Court on June 8. John Small, prosecuting, said that on June 7, police were waiting at the Sandy Lane roundabout on the Eastern Bypass and flashed their lights for Peck to stop.

He slowed down and then suddenly sped off, performing a sudden U-turn, nearly causing an accident.

He then drove southbound at 90mph, jumping red lights at The Slade and Horspath Road junctions, passing one car on its nearside at more than 100mph, said Mr Small. Turning off the bypass he then tried to drive down a footpath, causing pedestrians to leap to safety, before being stopped by barriers.

Terence Woods, defending, said Peck's offending began after he was badly burned in a "horrific" housefire, and the trauma had led to an addiction to crack cocaine, which he had now conquered.

On the day in question, he had driven off after having a row with his girlfriend.

Judge Wilson said: "He's a menace to the public."