A driver swapped seats with a passenger - in the middle of a police chase through a built-up area in Gravesend.

Father-of-three Olumuyiwa Rhoomes, 33, climbed into the rear of the Hyundai Tucson as a pal switched seats.

It prompted Judge Martin Huseyin to remark: "I have never before come across such an astonishing piece of dangerous driving."

The painter and decorator was on prison licence on October 10 last year when he was spotted at the wheel of the uninsured car on the A2 heading towards Gravesend.

Prosecutor Stacey-Lee Holland told Maidstone Crown Court how Rhoomes then sped away from police after turning off the road.

"The vehicle accelerated away from the officers, driving at speeds of 55 mph in a 30 mph area."

The prosecutor said the vehicle then overtook other vehicles without slowing before clipping kerb at a roundabout as it turned along the Wrotham Road a very busy residential road".

She said: "He then overtook another vehicle coming onto the wrong side of the road towards oncoming traffic before swerving back at the last minute and nearly collided with a member of the public.

"About 200 metres into the road he slowed to around 30 to 40 mph and the officers then saw him climb into the back of the car leaving the car without anyone at the wheel.

"Clearly no-one was in control of the vehicle and it started to veer onto the wrong side of the road heading into oncoming traffic, near a school."

The prosecutor said that a passenger was then seen climbing into the driver's seat and before bringing the vehicle to a halt.

The court heard how Rhoomes is then dragged out of the vehicle and claimed his eye was damaged by a knee in the scuffle.

Paul Dixon, defending, said Rhoomes had 11 years driving experience, adding: "This was not totally reckless behaviour but it was impulsive."

Rhoomes, of Amelia Street, south-east London admitted dangerous driving and was disqualified from driving for 43 months.

Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Huseyin told him he had put the lives of other drivers, pedestrians and his own passenger at risk by leaving the vehicle with no-one at the control.

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