Jailed: Driver led police on terror chase through Shropshire town

Kyle Jones did not even have a provisional driving licence - but at one point in the pursuit in Wem he raced over a bridge so quickly all four wheels of his Peugeot van left the ground, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

The 22-year-old also sped through red lights, forced pedestrians to dive for cover as he mounted the pavement and signalled to go one way before sharply veering off in the opposite direction to try and shake off police.

He only stopped when the van, which he had bought a couple of weeks previously, broke down as a result of it crashing down on the bridge, the court heard.

Mr Gerard Quirke, prosecuting, said Jones reached speeds of up to 60mph during the 15-minute pursuit through narrow roads which mostly had 30mph limits.

The prosecutor said officers had put the flashing blue lights on to try to get him to stop after he tailgated and then aggressively overtook another driver at around 11.30pm on June 10 this year.

But instead of stopping, Jones sped up, Mr Quirke said.

"Mr Jones accelerated away," the prosecutor said. "In the town centre the speed limit was 30mph - he was doing 50mph and obviously aware of the police behind him.

"He drove at speed across level crossings and mounted a footpath before driving through temporary traffic lights on red on a road that had been reduced to one carriageway.

"He was driving in excess of 50mph in a rural location and went over a bridge so fast all four wheels left the ground."

The court heard Jones was eventually found behind the wheel of the vehicle after it came to a stop and tested positive for cannabis at the roadside. But he refused to have a blood test at the police station after being arrested, Mr Quirke said.

The prosecutor told the court Jones had his licence revoked in 2013 for other motoring offences and had not applied for a new one.

Jones, from Wrexham, pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen.

Mrs Debra White, for Jones, said he had got into the car "in anger" after an argument with his mother and partner and was also coming to terms with the fact his father had been diagnosed with cancer.

But she added: "He doesn't use this as an excuse."

Judge Robin Onions, sentencing Jones, said: "I am afraid the message is absolutely clear Mr Jones - people who drive like you did must expect immediate custody. No other sentence is justified."