A YOUNG motorist – and self-confessed ‘petrol-head’ – has been jailed after driving along a public footpath to evade police.

Michael Royal, 24, also drove within yards of schoolchildren as his vehicle emerged from the path, close to the school, a crown court was told.

And when questioned about his offending by a probation officer, Royal said: “I’m a petrol head. I can’t get enough of cars. It’s how I live my life.”

Judge Beverley Lunt imprisoned Royal for 20 months after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance. He was also banned from driving for 22 months.

Jailing him at Burnley Crown Court, Judge Lunt said: “Your record with cars is truly horrendous. The only way to keep the public safe from you is to keep you in prison for as long as possible.”

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said the defendant was spotted by a police officer, who knew him, behind the wheel of a car just eight days after he had been banned from the roads for a previous offence.

Royal refused to stop his car and was trailed by police from Marsden Street in Burnley to nearby New Ground Court, a cul-de-sac.

But instead of stopping, Royal swerved the car through bollards, the court heard, driving along a footpath before emerging near to St John The Baptist RC Primary in Burnley, with children passing by.

Royal, of Pembroke Street, Burnley, drove off and was only arrested later, the court was told.

Robert Elias, defending, said his client had been completely frank with the probation officer about his offending but denied he put youngsters in danger.

One of Royal’s previous offences saw him break into a secure compound at Ward’s Garage in Burnley, to retrieve two cars which had been impounded there.

He torched one and sent it careering down a cobbled street, where it crashed into the wall of a family home. Royal has also previously served time behind bars after breaking into a home while a mother was on the school run.