An uninsured driver took a car without permission and rammed police when they pursued him. And as a result he's been jailed for a year.
Police spotted Christoph Cole in the vehicle in Dundry, Bristol Crown Court heard. After a short chase in which two police cars and a parked car was damaged, he stopped and fled, but was arrested after being identified from CCTV.
Cole, 35, of Queen's Road in Bishopsworth, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving without insurance and aggravated vehicle taking after the incident on October 27 last year. Judge Edward Burgess KC jailed him for a year.
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Sentencing yesterday (January 12), the judge told him: "It caused police officers to fear for their personal safety. You rammed into two police vehicles, you damaged a parked car, decamped and ran away."
Cole was banned from driving for three-and-a-half years. He was also ordered to take an extended driving test.
Jack Barry, prosecuting, said police spotted Cole driving at 60mph through a 20mph zone. The court heard that, having been seen in Dundry, Cole led police on a pursuit lasting just over a mile in which two police cars were written off and a parked Vauxhall was damaged to the tune of just under £6,000.
Cole came to a halt in St Nicholas Mews in Bishopsworth. He and a passenger got out and ran off but Cole was identified and arrested, the court heard.
Chloe Griggs, defending, told the court: "His manner of driving was appalling and completely inexcusable. He is remorseful for his actions and entered an early guilty plea at the magistrates' court. He has accepted full responsibility."
Miss Griggs said her client had another side as a loving and caring, reliable man. He has the offer of work on his release, the court heard.
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