A "crazy" banned motorist who drove the wrong way along a motorway in a stolen tipper truck has been jailed.

When cornered by police near the village of Vigo Kevin Andrews reversed the vehicle injuring two officers.

Now a judge has told the 29-year-old: "If you continue to drive in this crazy way…he will kill someone, maybe more than just one."

The vehicle owner had reported the theft of the truck from his home in Ashford, within minutes.

The vehicle was then seen going London bound along the busy coastbound carriageway on the M20.

Andrews then drove at speeds of up to 70 mph on a rainy and snowy December night - causing many drivers to swerve "in fear of their lives", Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Caroline Knight told how as two officers were following the vehicle - it reversed into their police car, injuring them.

Andrews, 29, of New Ash Green, Gravesend, was jailed for a total of 22 months after admitting aggravated vehicle taking, two assaults, driving dangerously and while disqualified and without a licence or insurance. He was also banned from driving for five years.

Recorder Alper Riza QC told him: "This was appalling driving. I want police officers to know that judges appreciate what they do in protecting the public from crazy drivers like you.

"This was so extreme that the public rightly expects drivers, who travel on the wrong way in a stolen vehicle injuring two police officers, be punished by the courts in such a way that it would be a deter other crazy drivers."

One of the officers involved in the chase, PC Michael Eels later said "I genuinely feared for my life" and motorist Hanna Willingham revealed she was "absolutely terrified".

Ms Knight said that the incident took 40 minutes from the moment he took the vehicle to when he was arrested.

Andrews had been serving a three year driving ban after two offences of driving dangerously in December 2015.

Ms Knight said that Mr Kent's CCTV caught a white van passing his home at 12.20 am on December 2 last year.

"Andrews had jammed a piece of metal into the ignition to start the engine and within three minutes the police were called.

"Police patrols were alerted and then saw the truck travelling from Ashford to Maidstone on the A20 at 12.40 am..." Recorder Alper Riza QC

She said that as officers began following the stolen vehicle as it travelled between 50 to 70 mph along the M20.

"He was travelling on the coast bound carriageway in the wrong lane, forcing multiple drivers to swerve away. Some later said they were fearful for their lives."

"I want police officers to know that judges appreciate what they do in protecting the public from crazy drivers like you..."

She added that as police set up a rolling road block, Andrews was blocked from heading onto the M26 and turned towards Fairseat but was blocked in at Vigo and then reversed into the police car behind.

The officers received minor whiplash injuries, the prosecutor added.

John Barker, defending, said: "It is difficult to think of a more serious cases of dangerous driving than this. But he was reckless rather than deliberately assaulting the officers so he could escape."

"He took the vehicle for financial reasons but when he found himself being pursued by police and just panicked. He cannot explain the mad man behind the wheel but he does feel remorse and shame."

Andrews wrote a letter to the judge who told him: "I do feel compassion for you but I have to protect the public."

Investigating officer, PC Josh Cooper, said: "Andrews put himself and the lives of others in danger when he got behind the wheel of that truck. Thanks to the diligence of the officers pursuing him, there were no casualties and he was safely arrested.

"His complete disregard for others was further highlighted when he rammed the police car after being forced to stop. Thankfully he will now serve time in prison where he can consider the consequences of his actions."