Joby Wilson was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court

by Keith Hunt

A driver branded "an absolute menace" by a judge has been banned from the roads for 12 years after leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Judge Charles Byers had declared he was considering disqualifying Joby Wilson for life.

He asked how old Wilson was and, when told 39, said: "OK, 20 years then."

Wilson, who has never passed a test, had already run up 46 previous convictions - including four for dangerous driving and 12 for driving while disqualified - when he committed the latest offences.

He was driving an Isuzu Trooper with a trailer attached when he fled from police in the early hours of July 9. During the chase, he tried to ram the police car and destroyed crops in fields.

Szilvia Booker, prosecuting, said Wilson sped off after he was spotted in Marden Road, Staplehurst. He ploughed through wheat crops before driving around buildings at Pagehurst Farm.

"The trailer was released by others in the car either to impede the police or to get away faster," she said. "Luckily, it didn't collide with the police car."

"he is an absolute menace on the road. he is lucky somebody wasn't killed, otherwise he would be facing double figures..." – judge charles byers

The married father-of-three went onto Five Ash Lane and then into another field. At one point, he drove at the police car - but the officers managed to avoid being rammed.

He then headed into another farm, knocking the gate off its hinges. The gate fell onto the bonnet of the police car. He was arrested after driving into a ditch and turning the car on its side.

"A number of crops were trampled and damaged," said Miss Booker. "Something in the region of 20 tonnes of wheat valued at £3,800 was destroyed. About £2,300 worth of damage was caused to the police car."

Wilson, of Cranwell Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and two offences of destroying property. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Judge Byers said Wilson's record also included him stealing cars, destroying property and violence.

Tom Stern, defending, said Wilson had never been in the position to drive legitimately on the roads.

"There is precious little I can say about these matters," he added. "He lost all perspective and judgement as he tried to get away."

Judge Byers told him: "He is an absolute menace on the road. He is lucky somebody wasn't killed, otherwise he would be facing double figures."

He told Wilson: "Having driven dangerously on the road for reasons I don't understand, you damaged crops, hedges and a gate, which is somebody's livelihood. The police car was also badly damaged."