Dangerous driver Tarkan Agca sped at twice speed limit before driving into street where children were playing

The car was following him and the two men were plain-clothes police officers, Luton Crown Court heard on Friday.

Tarkan Agca, 22, of Crusader Way, Watford, was at the wheel of a black Mercedes police suspected of being involved in drug dealing.

Prosecutor Natasha Dardashti said Agca tried to shake off the police in Watford Road, Croxley Green by cutting through a pub car park into New Road.

As the police activated their sirens and flashing lights, he drove back onto Watford Road, not giving way at a junction.

Then he turned into Valley Walk, driving at 60mph in a 30 zone, before going into Sycamore Road, a cul-de-sac where children were playing.

Ms Dardashti said Agca got out of the car and ran along the canal towpath before police caught up with him.

She added: "He was out and breath and was sweating. In a police interview Mr Agca said he been playing football in Barton Way park."

But Agca pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on June 22, 2017.

When he appeared sentence on Friday, he had 12 convictions for 26 offences.

In April last year he received a 12-week suspended sentence for battery and harassment.

Will Noble, defending, said he had an unenviable record, but this was his first dangerous driving offence.

He said: "The police were in an unmarked car in baseball caps. He was aware he was being followed and panicked. When they activated sirens the panic continued. The drive was over a relatively short distance.

"There was no accident or injury to anybody and there were no passengers in his car."

Judge Michael Kay QC told him: "You are responsible for what you do. Your impulsive behaviour is extremely dangerous to other people. Those who enter into a police chase are putting the public at risk. It is lucky there were no injuries."

He jailed Agca for a total of 28 weeks and banned him from driving for 15 months saying he must take an extended retest for he regains his licence.