A MAN has been jailed for five months after trying to escape police officers who saw him driving while disqualified.

Swindon magistrates sentenced Tony Lazarus, 23, of Frobisher Drive, Walcot, after he admitted of driving while disqualified for the third time.

The court heard that police on a routine patrol saw Lazarus driving a red BMW in Somerville Road, Walcot, on June 27.

One of the officers knew Lazarus was disqualified from driving, and as his car approached, the officer opened his window and told him to stay where he was.

Emmeline Downing, prosecuting, told the court that Lazarus then drove on to the pavement and around the police car towards Queens Drive.

She said he then left his car at Elizabeth House off Queens Drive and ran towards Sussex Square.

Police were called to the area and the court heard that Lazarus was arrested at 6.30pm the same day.

Lazarus pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He had already been sentenced to four months in jail when he was last caught driving while disqualified in 2001.

Rob Ross, defending, said: "Mr Lazarus admits he acted very foolishly. There was a lot going on in his life at that time.

"He does not have an entrenched pattern of offending and has just taken up an offer of work with his father in London as a painter and decorator.

"He is not the sort of person who goes out and burgles or steals. He appears to have something of a problem with motor vehicles."

Magistrates' chairman Stephen Blanchard told Lazarus: "This was a very serious offence. You were indicated to stop by the police and drove off at high speed, recklessly mounting the pavement.

"You have previous imprisonment for driving while disqualified. Prison is inevitable."