A judge described a joyrider as “cocaine-fuelled, dishonest, dangerous and stupid” as he gave him a suspended prison sentence.

Carl Corolan, of The Broadway, Minster, led police on an eight-mile chase across Sheppey, driving a stolen Ford Kuga along narrow roads at speeds of up to 70mph.

The 27-year-old was first spotted by officers on a routine patrol near Cowstead Corner just before 4am on February 21 last year travelling at 60mph in a 40mph zone.

Officers activated their car’s sirens but Corolan failed to stop.

He sped through Brambledown, taking a right-hand bend and veering on to the wrong side of the road before ending up on Eastchurch High Street and failing to slow down through a 30mph zone.

Officers momentarily lost sight of the 4x4 as they were forced to slow down by the state of the roads, but soon spotted it heading towards Warden Bay.

It was eventually tracked down to Cliff View Gardens where it had come to a rest next to a tree. Corolan was stood next to the driver’s door and ran off, but was soon arrested.

In interview he initially denied being the driver and said he was unaware the car, which sustained minor damage, had been stolen from Essex three weeks earlier.

Corolan, who works for a care company, previously admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving dangerously and having no insurance, but is in the process of disputing driving without a licence.

At Maidstone Crown Court Judge Martin Joy said: “You are taking other people’s lives in your hands.

“You are a thoroughly obnoxious and anti-social person living an utterly despicable life" - Judge Martin Joy

“You are a thoroughly obnoxious and anti-social person living an utterly despicable life.”

Sentencing him to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, Judge Joy told Corolan he deserved a very long prison sentence but there were other ways he could be dealt with.

The court heard Corolan is still subject to a community order, having been convicted of a similar offence in 2015.

He has so far completed only eight of 200 hours of unpaid work as he has a heart condition brought on by steroid and cocaine abuse.

Judge Joy ordered him to complete the remain 192 hours and imposed a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.