by Keith Hunt

A banned driver caused "mayhem" when he rammed two police cars and injured officers in an attempt to escape arrest.

Jack Strover also put other road users in danger during the six-mile pursuit in the Ashford area.

A judge told the 22-year-old father-of-three on Friday: "It is no thanks to you that nobody was seriously injured, or even killed."

Strover, of Bybrook Road, Kennington, was jailed for 17 months and banned for three years after admitting dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he was on bail after being caught riding a motorbike while banned when he was spotted in a transit van on May 10.

Allister Walker, prosecuting, said officers saw Strover near a yard in Ellingham and followed him with lights and sirens activated.

He sped off exceeding speed limits and shooting through red lights.

He overtook cars on the A28 towards Canterbury and then headed for Boughton Lees.

Mr Walker said Strover twice stopped and reversed into police cars. He smashed into another car, leaving wreckage in his wake.

He was not arrested until 16 days later.

One of the officers was injured when his head hit the windscreen. Another had a whiplash injury.

The prosecutor said Strover had previously been banned from driving and in July last year was sentenced to nine months jail for affray.

Pieter Briegel, defending, told Recorder Peter Gower QC: "It's quite clear on May 10 this young man brought mayhem to the roads. Loss of life could have resulted."

Strover had admitted: "This is the most stupid thing I have ever done. I don't know what came over me."

Mr Briegel said Strover had learnt a lesson. To bring home the message, he had told him the penalties for causing death by dangerous driving, which carried a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.

"It could be said it is hard to imagine a worse case of dangerous driving," he added.

Strover had taken to drugs and drinking at the age of 15.