A BANNED, one-armed driver has been jailed for 11 months by a judge following two high-speed chases with police within the space of a month.

Joseph Baker, 24, of Park Road, Ryde, admitted driving at speeds of up to 80mph in one of the pursuits in Newport on June 17, and another which happened on July 15 in Ryde.

Baker, said by his barrister to have committed driving offences because he wanted to prove he could do what an able-bodied person could do, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to surrender and driving without insurance when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court last week.

The court was told at around 9pm on June 17, officers in an unmarked vehicle were travelling in Furrlongs, Newport, when they spotted a Ford Focus, which had a defective brake light.

Officers followed the vehicle, which was in a 20mph zone, but the vehicle began to speed up, making officers believe the driver was trying to get away, said Tim Compton, prosecuting.

The car sped at 60mph in a 40mph limit before performing a U-turn and officers turned on their blue lights and sirens to continue the pursuit.

Baker’s vehicle went through a red light and police estimated his speed at between 60mph and 80mph. It entered a residential area and Baker fled from the car.

He was eventually arrested and appeared in court on June 18.

A month later, police spotted Baker in another car in Ryde.

Again, police sounded their sirens and turned on blue lights but Baker accelerated, reaching a speed of 60mph in a 30mph area.

He avoided collisions as he was pursued in Swanmore Road and almost collided with another police vehicle in Smallbrook Lane.

The court was told he had 12 aliases and 11 convictions for 35 offences, including offences involving vehicles.

Representing Baker, Kaj Scarsbrook said his client was under no illusions as to his fate as he had committed two very similar offences, one while on bail for the other offence.

He said Baker had a difficult start in life as he had been born without a lower left arm, had been kicked out of his family home and had no role model.

He fell in with criminals and his driving offences had begun to prove to himself he could do what an able-bodied person could do.

Mr Scarsbrook added Baker’s partner had suffered a miscarriage and his aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer in the run-up to the offences.

He said: “He is remorseful and knows he has been extremely stupid.”

Baker was also disqualified from driving for two years and five-and-a-half months and told to take an extended re-test.