A banned driver who put lives at risk when he led police on a high-speed chase, has been locked up.

The pursuit of Tony Marten only came to an end when he had to slow down behind a van and the police car smashed into the back of him.

Maidstone Crown Court was told officers noticed Marten in a Skoda Fabia because they thought he was too young to be driving.

They indicated to him to stop in Berridge Road, Sheerness, on January 5, but the 20-year-old ignored them and drove off.

He broke speed limits in damp conditions and turned into High Street, towards Halfway Road.

His speed reached 70mph in a 30mph limit in Union Road, Minster.

Prosecutor Peter Walsh said Marten entered the Broadway, Minster, and did not slow down enough to be able to react to any other traffic.

“Had there been any traffic such was his driving there would have been a head-on collision,” he said.

“He accelerated again to 50mph towards The Leas in Minster. By now there was heavy rain. Nevertheless, his speed increased to 60mph.”

Marten taunted the officers by twice slowing down as if to stop and then driving off again. He ended up back at Berridge Road.

“He tried to take a left turn into it,” said Mr Walsh.

“He changed his mind because he was going too fast. He mounted the pavement, narrowly missing the wall of the end property.

“Had there been pedestrians on the pavement the car would have hit them. The weather was getting worse. He continued in a heavily residential area.

“He got stuck behind a van. The police were able to stop the car by crashing into the back of it.”

Marten admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop and having no driving licence or insurance. He was sentenced to eight months youth custody and banned for two years.

A jury acquitted him of another dangerous driving charge alleged to have been committed earlier that day, when he was accused of driving at two women on a pavement in Halfway Road.

He had previous convictions for 14 offences including theft, driving while disqualified and other motoring matters.

Judge Martin Joy told him: “You don’t have any regard for court orders.

“You seem to need to have it rammed home to you that if you commit serious offences such as this, you will be punished.”