A DISQUALIFIED driver who reached speeds in excess of 90mph during a police pursuit has been jailed.

Robert Freeman was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment following his actions in Crawley and Horsham on the afternoon last month.

The 27-year-old carpenter, of Shottermill, Horsham, was also disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (April 15), after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

At 11.55am on 18 March, police became aware of an Audi Q7 after it triggered an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera in Crawley.

It later triggered another camera in the town and was seen to travel towards Horsham.

Officers from the Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit identified the vehicle prior to the Robin Hood Roundabout on the A24 southbound, and it was followed onto the A264 towards Five Oaks.

Shortly afterwards, the vehicle failed to stop when signalled to do so by police and a pursuit ensued.

During the pursuit, the vehicle was driven at high speeds and in a dangerous manner in a narrow country road, before officers lost sight of it.

The vehicle was later found parked at the rear of a farm in West Chiltington Lane, near Coolham, at about 1pm, where Freeman was arrested and taken into custody.

Investigating officer Peter King-Fisher said: "His sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences he committed and the complete disregard he showed for other road users.”