AN “APPALLING” motorist has notched up another offence for driving while banned as he hurtled through a York village and led police on a high-speed chase down a public footpath.

CCTV footage showed York Crown Court how police chased banned driver Shane Holmes, 25, who was driving in excess of 50mph through the residential streets of Heworth.

Alan Mitcheson, prosecuting, told the court how officers had spotted Holmes, who has two previous convictions for dangerous driving and 13 previous convictions for driving while disqualified, speeding on Westfield Road on the evening of September 21 last year.

Holmes ignored signals to pull over, instead increasing his speed and leading police on a 15-minute chase across a junction, down a residential street and along a public footpath.

Holmes then abandoned his distinctive white Vauxhall Astra with a red roof and escaped on foot.

A tiny camera attached to the police car showed how officers gave chase down an alleyway before Holmes returned minutes later.

Defence barrister, Simon Perkins, said Holmes had an addiction to cars “as corrosive as drugs”.

Judge Roger Ibbotson told Holmes his actions endangered the lives of himself, the police officers and also anyone who might have been in the area at the time.

“You drove at a speed of 50mph in a residential area and you were pursued by police and drove down a path meant for pedestrians.

“The fact that you are not facing a more serious charge is by sheer luck that nobody happened to be walking down that path at the time.

“You also drove across a junction without slowing and you endangered the life of the police officers who were following you. This was an appalling piece of driving.”

Judge Ibbotson told Holmes he had a “disgraceful” previous record for dangerous driving.

“All of these contribute to what is a very serious case. It is a very appealing prospect to send you to jail and there is no doubt at all your case requires a custodial sentence.

“However, I have decided to give you one last opportunity to turn your life around and I will suspend this sentence.

“But if you come before this court again you will go straight to prison without any hesitation at all. Do not throw this opportunity out of the window.”

Holmes, of no fixed address, but formerly of Haxby, pleaded guilty to the charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving while disqualified. He was given a 52-week sentence suspended for two years, 60 hours’ unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for three years.