Banned from the roads but behind the wheel, serial road menace Anthony McCartney put families in danger when he drove through a pedestrianised market place.
The 30-year-old was already disqualified from driving when he recklessly steered a friend's car through Blyth Market Place, just after an open air cinema event had ended.
And a judge said he put young children at risk.
Judge Edward Bindloss told him: "At Blyth Market Place, a pedestrianised zone, where there were families and young children present you drove at excess speed. This was a relatively short period of bad driving, but with a high risk of harm."
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the "traffic free zone" was still busy with young families when McCartney arrived, at around 5.40pm on an evening in August.
Paul Cross, prosecuting, explained: "Two police officers were on mobile patrol in the Market Place when they heard a screech of tyres and saw a black Ford Fiesta being driven by the defendant in the pedestrianised area.
"There was a clear disregard for the safety of pedestrians and children."
McCartney left the pedestrianised area by driving through two bollards designed to keep cars out, the court was told.
"As the driver left the pedestrianised area he saw the officers and put his arm up in what the officers thought was an attempt to say sorry," Mr Cross continued.
"They followed him."
While being pursued by police McCartney drove through a red light and reached speeds of up to 40mph in a 30 mph zone, prompting police to abandon their pursuit.
The police officers found the car abandoned on a residential estate soon after, and McCartney was found nearby and arrested," the court was told.
"When arrested it turned out he was disqualified from driving," said Mr Cross. "The vehicle had damage to both off side tyres. The owner of the vehicle was traced. He had allowed the defendant to drive it but he was unaware he was uninsured and and didn't have a valid licence."
The court was told that McCartney, of Ambridge Way in Kenton, Newcastle, had a long list of convictions for driving offences and had been banned from the roads several times.
His most recent disqualification was in December 2017 when he was banned for 46 months.
McCartney admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, driving whilst unfit, and failing to provide a specimen.
Penny Hall, mitigating, said the incident followed a period of time when McCartney had managed to stay out of trouble.
"The defendant accepts he made a very foolish decision to drive his friend's car. When the police tried to collect him he panicked and drove off and he fully accepts this was a bad piece of driving," she said.
"The defendant accepts that he has a bad record for driving. He is very disappointed in himself and very angry with himself."
Judge Bindloss sentenced McCartney to nine months in prison, suspended for two years.
He also disqualified him from driving for a further three years and 10 months.
The judge added: "It was aggravated by the fact that you were disqualified at the time. You have a very poor driving record."
