A dangerous driver has been jailed after being involved in two high-speed police chases.

Thomas McDonagh, 32, of Howard Street, east Oxford, admitted a string of offences committed on February 7, February 19 and April 4 this year, including two counts of dangerous driving.

John Small, prosecuting at Oxford Crown Court, said an officer caught McDonagh breaking into a car on February 7 in Banbury.

Father-of-four McDonagh pushed him away and made off in his own Vauxhall Cavalier.

Mr Small said officers managed to burst his tyres at Kidlington, but McDonagh carried on. He drove through the village at more than 60mph as his tyres were shredding.

When McDonagh was stopped he was slightly over the drink-drive limit.

Mr Small said he admitted dangerous driving before magistrates the next day and was given an interim driving ban. But on February 19 police found him behind the wheel again and he was charged with driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

On April 4 McDonagh was again charged with dangerous driving after trying to evade police. Mr Small said: "He seemed to regard the whole thing as a bit of a game."

Kevin O'Gorman, defending McDonagh, said: "He recognises what he has done is totally stupid and could have had terrible consequences."

Judge Tom Corrie said: "You are still quite a young man. You have a family and you are a good worker."

He sentenced McDonagh to 38 months' imprisonment, which included the eight-month balance of a previous sentence which does not expire until October this year.