A banned and drunk driver who sped through a Cumbrian town before spitting at three police officers has been jailed.

Shane Ian Harper, 27, got behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Insignia fitted with a dash-cam which captured his erratic motoring between a Borrowdale hotel and Keswick just before midnight on February 4.

Having damaged the car by colliding with a hedge, Harper was considerably under the influence as he continued into Keswick and passed through two sets of no-entry signs, reaching over 40mph in a 30mph zone. He travelled the wrong way along a narrow residential road close to the town centre before stopping and going into a pub.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that after police were called, Harper turned aggressive and abusive. He spat directly at three officers and kicked one in the groin.

He was sentenced today having admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a breath specimen, three police assaults and other motoring offences.

Judge James Adkin jailed Harper, of no fixed address, for 14 months having heard the defendant had admitted himself to being drunk "out of his head" that night.

Judge Adkin also banned him from driving for three years, and said: "It is pure chance that particularly during the course of the journey in Keswick you didn't injure or kill any pedestrians or any motorists."