A DRUNK driver who led police on a 70 mile per hour chase through Christchurch before ploughing into a parked camper van has been jailed.

Kyle Eglington, of Beaufort Road in Southbourne, got behind the wheel of his friend's grandmother's Renault Clio in the early hours of August 25 2015, despite having no licence.

In the hours before, the 26-year-old had been drinking with a group of people, and a court heard that he admitted during an interview with the Probation Service to being "extremely intoxicated".

Prosecuting the case at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, April 1, Simon Jones said the defendant had returned to a friend's house before he was given the keys to her grandmother's Clio.

"At 2.03am, a police officer on patrol in an unmarked police car saw the Clio negotiate the Fountain Way roundabout," the barrister said.

"The officer followed the car along Barrack Road and into Stour Road. He activated blue lights and sirens when the car was seen to accelerate."

However, the Renault's speed increased to around 60mph before the vehicle began "swerving from side to side," Mr Jones said.

At the Iford roundabout, an HGV driver was forced to brake suddenly when Eglington failed to give way.

The chase continued into Iford Lane, where the defendant drove at around 70mph over speed bumps, around chicanes and through standing flood water caused by an earlier downpour, Mr Jones said.

Finally, the Clio collided with the camper van, which then hit a Volkswagen Polo.

The Polo also struck a street light.

Front seat passenger Lauren Furmidge sustained bad bruising, while Eglington himself was initially suspected to have broken his neck, although it was later discovered that his injuries were not serious.

While in hospital, the defendant was "aggressive" and wouldn't cooperate with officers wishing to take blood to test his alcohol levels, the court heard.

However, a charge of failing to provide a specimen for analysis was not proceeded with after Eglington pleaded not guilty.

Mitigating, Leslie Smith said Eglington "bitterly regrets his foolish behaviour".

"The author of the pre-sentence report seems to recognise that he made an impulsive and incorrect decision," Mr Smith said.

He added that Eglington has accepted "full responsibility for the stupidity of his behaviour".

The defendant admitted dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance at the earliest opportunity.

Judge Peter Crabtree OBE said the highest sentence that can be given for dangerous driving is two years.

"You have a quite appalling criminal record," he told the defendant.

"You were pursued over two-and-a-half miles in a 30mph urban area driving with disregard for other road users."

Eglington was sentenced to nine months behind bars.