A banned driver committed the most dangerous piece of driving that traffic officers had seen for 15 years when he fled from police through central Bristol.

Craig Buck, 36, of Old Weston Road, Congresbury, was jailed for 19 months at Bristol Crown Court.

Buck was driving his father's Mitsubishi Shogun through heavy traffic with two friends when he saw police tailing him towards Stapleton Road and Trinity Road.

His front seat passenger, Alan Brindle – who was once involved in a fatal crash – was scared and tried to put the car into neutral.

But Buck said: "I ain't going to prison, I'm banned," before jumping a red light in Old Market, mounting a kerb and narrowly missing a woman.

Mr Brindle shouted to watch her, but Buck said: "I don't care. I'm not going to prison."

The back-seat passenger, Jason Galloway also shouted Buck to stop, but he veered into Midland Road and mounted the kerb again.

Mr Brindle managed to put the car into neutral and the passengers jumped out, but Buck drove on, crashing into a bus before heading up Castle Street on the wrong side of the road.

He drove through Castle Park, hitting a tree, and clipped another car in Bridge Street. Buck careered through Queen Square before finally stopping in Winterstoke Road.

In Bristol Crown Court he admitted one charge of aggravated vehicle taking and one charge of driving while disqualified.