A BANNED driver who escaped a jail term after reversing his car into a Penhill garden where young children were playing has finally been jailed.

Heroin user Gerald Hicks, who had also burgled two homes, was given a chance in the summer of 2003 when he was put on a drug treatment and testing order.

But the 33-year-old completed only eight months of the eighteen-month order to the 'bare minimum' standard and then went on the run.

He was only brought to book when he was again caught putting youngsters' lives at risk driving carelessly while still banned and wanted for another break in.

A judge at Swindon Crown Court heard that the earlier driving matter took place in March 2003, after police spotted him behind the wheel in Latton Close, Penhill. As officers tried to stop him on a Sunday lunchtime he reversed away at speed careering through four concrete fence posts into a garden on Ramsbury Avenue.

Witnesses estimated the reversing car's speed at up to 30mph before it smashed into the garden where two children had been playing moments earlier.

Speaking shortly after the incident Jennifer Prowse, whose children had been in the garden moments before the smash, said: "If it wasn't for the fence, they could be dead or in hospital fighting for their lives. They're all traumatised by the accident."

Chris Smyth, defending, said his client accepted that he reversed at 15mph before colliding with the garden fence.

But he insisted no children were narrowly missed.

He said his client had driven away after police smashed one of the car's windows spraying glass into Hicks' face.

Hicks, of Briarswood Court, Liden, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

After being thrown off the drug treatment and testing order in April last year, Hicks was told to attend court during the summer but failed to show.

He was finally caught after he was arrested on December 29 last year for driving at speed through a residential area where children were playing on the street.

The disqualified driver, who was wanted for a burglary at Burger King from the month before, was found hiding under a bush after fleeing from the car.

He was also in possession of heroin.

Mr Smyth said that after failing on the order his client went to live in Milton Keynes where he had been working.

He said he had only returned to Swindon to see family at Christmas when he was spotted driving and had almost completed a nine month jail term for those matters.

Mr Smyth added that his client had spent four months in custody before the drug treatment and testing order was imposed.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tom Longbotham said: "The fact of the matter is you give this court no confidence. You have a poor record."

He ruled the new sentence should only start when the current jail term ends.

Jamie Hill