A serial motor menace flippantly replied "oh dear" when told he was being locked up for breaching a driving ban for the 12th time.

Brian Maruva is disqualified from driving until 2029 but keeps on flouting the court order, despite previously serving jail sentences.

In fact, the 47-year-old had only been released from prison for two months for last breaching the ban when he once again got behind the wheel of his Jaguar X-Type.

He was soon spotted by police and initially sped-off before dumping the car and trying to run away on foot.

But his escape bid was thwarted and Maruva, of Waverley Road, in Elswick, Newcastle, was arrested.

He appeared before magistrates in North Tyneside on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to one count of driving while disqualified and one of driving with no insurance.

And, when he was told his behaviour "had to stop" and he was being jailed for 18 weeks, Maruva simply replied: "Oh dear".

Oriana Frame, prosecuting, told the court that police were driving along Adelaide Terrace, in Benwell, at 3.55pm on April 25 this year when they spotted Maruva in his car.

"The officers turned their patrol car round and they saw the defendant's vehicle turning right," she continued. "It was at speed where he appeared to be making off.

"They pursued the vehicle and it came to a stop. The driver exited and began to make off on foot. There was as short foot chase and the defendant was detained."

The court heard that Maruva admitted he was driving the car but subsequent police checks revealed he was banned until 2029.

Ms Farme added: "This is the defendant's 12th such conviction for driving while disqualified. The most recent conviction was in October 2019 in Dumfries when he was given a custodial sentence."

Mark Humble, defending, said Maruva had only got out of prison in February and was the sole carer of his 16-year-old son.