William Johnson drove 30 yards along a stretch of track where trains reach 110mph before his van got stuck in the gravel.

He had driven onto the railway line at Longhirst near Morpeth as officers chased him in connection with a suspected burglary in Alnwick around 10.35pm on May 18.

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When officers approached him at a petrol station, 42-year-old Johnson fled, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Beatrice Bolton said it was a potentially "horrendous" incident which could have had "unthinkable" consequences.

"Driving on to a railway line in these circumstances is extremely serious and unforgivable," Judge Bolton said.

"He was not to know that the last train had gone.

"Scores of people could have been killed and one cannot say for an instant he gave a thought to that when he drove on to the line.

"The consequences of going on to the line is unthinkable.

"I cannot see how a court can pass a non-custodial sentence for the deliberate driving up a main line railway where trains travel at a speed of up to 110mph."

Mark Styles, prosecuting, said Johnson was chased by police heading south from Alnwick towards Shilbottle, and at times he reached 80mph in his van travelling along the A1.

"It is when the vehicle reaches the left turn to Cresswell and Lynemouth things take a turn for the worse," said Mr Styles.

"The vehicle goes through Longhirst village and reaches the railway crossing on the main East Coast line.

"For reasons best known to himself, Johnson suddenly swerved and took a right-hand turn up and on to the main line, clearly trying to get away from the pursuing police.

"The vehicle travelled something in the order of 20 to 30 yards along the line before becoming stuck in the gravel on the line and could not move.

"He tried to reverse out and get away but was simply stuck in that position.

"Fortunately that evening the last express train had been through.
Clearly this defendant wasn't to know that."

The court heard the safety system in place used a CCTV camera at the crossing, but because of the position in which he van had come to rest, it would not have been picked up on the system.

Mr Styles said: "Had the van simply been abandoned, the all-clear would have been given on that line for trains to continue next morning."

Johnson, formerly of George Street, Ashington, pleaded guilty to endangering the lives of railway passengers, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Julie Clemitson, defending, said Johnson's offending was a "huge slide back" after making great progress in overcoming his long-term drug addiction.