A banned motorist who went on the run after admitting dangerous driving handed himself in to the police after learning his wife had cancer.

Shaun Price, a 25-year-old father-of-three, formerly of Greenacres travellers’ site, Semington, but now living in Runcorn, Cheshire, wanted to get the matter behind him so he can support his wife as she undergoes chemotherapy.

He has now been jailed for three months and been banned from driving for 15 months and until he passes an extended test.

Price admitted the offences at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in May but failed to turn up for sentencing at Swindon Crown Court.

Rob Ross, defending, said Price was driven to Wiltshire from his new home in Runcorn to hand himself in.

“His wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer a short while ago: that is why handed himself in,” he said.

Mr Ross said the couple had children aged five, three and seven months and he was working with his brother in the scrap metal trade.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said police saw the vehicle at 1am on Sunday, March 19 and believed the driver may be drunk.

They followed it onto the A361 Devizes Road, where it reached speeds of up to 80mph.

The van overtook a line of three vehicles by crossing the carriageway, went the wrong side of a keep left bollard and approached a roundabout on the wrong side of the road.

The chase ended when the vehicle pulled into the Greenacres travellers’ site and the three occupants tried to run away.

Although he failed a roadside breath test, when he got to the police station he was found to be just under the drink-drive limit.

He said he had been drinking earlier in the evening to celebrate a christening.

Price admitted dangerous driving, no insurance and driving while disqualified.

The court heard he was banned until he passed an extended test after being convicted of dangerous driving in early 2005.