'This is one of the worst examples of aggravated vehicle taking I've seen'

Yob crashed head-on into pensioner, 79 during an hour-long chase in stolen car

- Sentinel Reporter

MOTORIST Thomas Atkinson has been jailed after he took police on a dangerous chase which lasted nearly an hour.

The 33-year-old, above, took over the driving of the Kia Ceed because his friend was driving erratically.

When police began following, his mate told him it had been taken without the owner's consent.

Officers illuminated their lights but Atkinson failed to stop.

Instead he drove at high speeds in residential areas and outside a school and hospital. He went the wrong way around several roundabouts and drove through red lights to try and evade arrest.

And he crashed into several vehicles including one driven by an elderly woman.

He was eventually stopped by police and arrested.

Now Atkinson has been jailed for 18 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor David Bennett said a Kia Ceed was stolen at 7.38am on November 26 last year from an address in High Lane, Brown Edge, while the engine was running to defrost the windows. Police spotted the vehicle on the A34 in Trent Vale at 11.38am.

Mr Bennett said: "Police activated their lights indicating for him to stop. He failed to stop. A lengthy pursuit began which lasted just under an hour.