A 22-year-old broke his third driving ban when he led police on a dangerous chase through Wrexham, a court heard.
Jason Hughes, of Talbot Road in the town, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Monday morning.
He had admitted a number of offences at a previous hearing - including dangerous driving, driving without insurance and while disqualified - as well as failing to stop for police.
Oliver King, prosecuting, told the court that on the afternoon of February 11, police were made aware of a stolen silver Vauxhall Zafira was being driven in Wrexham.
Just before 3pm the vehicle, being driven by Hughes, was seen moving up Bradley Road to the junction of Regent Street - the wrong way.
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What followed was a series of dangerous manoeuvres including driving on the wrong side of the road into the path of oncoming traffic, overtaking various vehicles, driving through a red light and at "excessive speed."
He was being monitored by a police helicopter, which followed him in the direction of Marchwiel.
As he approached Overton, police deployed a stinger device which deflated his front tyres - but he carried on, driving on the wheel rims for some distance into the village.
Officers were able to box him in on High Street and arrest him.
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At the time of the offence, he was subject to his third driving disqualification, the court heard.
Duncan Bould, defending, told the court Hughes claimed to have become aware of the helicopter while in the town centre, which accounted for his manner of driving.
"He wishes to apologise to the court," Mr Bould said.
"Perhaps unfortuitously, some of those sections (of road) inside Wrexham are actually quite wide - the road to Marchwiel is effectively four lanes wide.
"Although his driving is dangerous, that probably helped to ensure more serious consequences didn't occur.
"It might have been worse, only in the circumstances the roads seem to have been relatively quiet.
"He's young - I appreciate he has a poor driving record and there is certainly a pattern to his behaviour, which is probably immature in many respects."
Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "Your driving can only really be thought of as reckless in the extreme - on the wrong side of the road, through a red set of lights and plainly at excessive speed, overtaking when it wasn't safe to do so in a built up area.
"It was grossly irresponsible driving.
"Quite how you thought you were going to escape detection when a helicopter was following you I know not."
Deciding that there was no prospect of rehabilitation in Hughes' case, the Judge jailed him for 12 months for the dangerous driving - to reflect his overall criminality, with no separate penalty imposed on the other charges.
Hughes was banned from driving for three years and must take an extended retest before he can legally get behind the wheel again.
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