A banned Peterlee driver who fled to Cyprus after an arson attack on his home has been jailed after taking a trip to McDonald's.
Despite being banned from driving, Darren Clarkson was spotted behind the wheel of a black VW Golf on March 28, last year.
The 30-year-old was spotted near his home in Horden, Peterlee, before he drove to McDonald's with a female passenger - and when police later arrested him, he initially denied the offence.
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But in August last year, the matter went to court, and a guilty plea had to be entered in Clarkson's absence by his solicitor as he'd fled the UK to Cyprus following an arson attack.
When he later failed to attend his sentencing on September 3, last year, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Clarkson finally arrived back to the North East last month, but didn't hand himself in to police until a few days after.
Clarkson, of Fourth Street, Horden, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for the breach.
Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said in 2020 Clarkson was given a nine month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for conspiring to pervert the course of justice, which related to him "lying to police" about being the driver of a car when he wasn't.
He was also banned from driving.
But after breaching that order in March, last year, by driving to McDonald's, he then fled to Cyprus after an arson attack was carried out on his home.
Elizabeth Muir, defending, said: "The reason for him leaving was because his address was set on fire on June 18, 2021.
"This followed on from a build up of incidents which included his windows being put through.
"He lost absolutely everything, his possessions were all gone.
"He believed somebody was targeting him but he didn't understand why."
She added: "It since appears that it was a vendetta someone has against his landlord. One he realised that, he returned to the country.
"He had a job for the entirety of his time in Cyprus as a landscaper and builder."
Judge Ray Singh said he "accepts" why Clarkson left the UK, but said the driving offence puts him in breach of his suspended sentence.
"I'm afraid you've brought this on yourself", he said.
Clarkson was jailed for six months and banned from driving for 15 months.
