A BANNED driver who did 70mph in built-up areas of Blackwood jumping a red light and narrowly missing a car during a police chase has been jailed.

Gemma Jones, 24, was chased for seven minutes in a car full of passengers before she finally stopped, a court heard today.

She had taken cannabis before going behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Astra, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Jones, of Church Street, Rhymney, has never held a driving licence, prosecutor David Pugh told the court.

But weeks earlier, she had been banned from driving for using a car without insurance, the court heard.

Jones pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and no insurance in the early hours of May 29.

She also admitted possessing cannabis for personal use and failing to provide a specimen of blood that day.

She said she was afraid of needles despite having tattoos, Mr Pugh told the court.

Jailing her for a total of seven months and seven days Judge Tom Crowther, QC, said: "The car was full of passengers.

"This posed a serious danger to them and other road users.

"This is so serious only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified."

Jones went past a temporary red traffic light and failed to give way at a junction narrowly missing oncoming traffic, the court heard.

The speed limit in the built-up areas of Blackwood is 30mph.

The court heard she had been banned for driving for no insurance on April 23.

She had also been given a community order in April for offences including making off without payment at a garage in Tredegar and stealing a £1.19 energy drink from a shop.

Tom Trobe, for the defence, said his client had expressed remorse for her offending.

He added she was still a young woman and had experienced abuse and homelessness.

On Thursday [Sept 3], Judge Crowther gave her six months' custody for dangerous driving and two months for driving while disqualified, to run concurrently.

She was also given one month for failing to provide a specimen of blood.

No custody was imposed for driving without insurance but her licence was endorsed.

In addition to the seven-month term, she was given two concurrent, seven-day terms for the shoplifting and making off without payment at the garage, totalling seven months and seven days.

Judge Crowther also imposed a new driving ban for 18 months.

She will have to serve half her sentence before she is released from prison and the cannabis is to be destroyed.