Bristol man struck police car after speeding away from officers

A Bristol man who sped off from police in his car before crashing and striking a police vehicle has been handed a six-month jail term suspended for two years.

Matthew Jones was found arguing with a woman in the car park of Littlecross House, Bedminster, Bristol Crown Court heard.

When officers asked him for a word he drove off, crashed, and was arrested when he tried to run for it.

Jones, 20, of Carrick House in Hotwells Road, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, vehicle interference and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Imposing sentence, Judge Mark Horton said: "You are aged 20 and it's quite plain that the extent of your education has only been achieved in the school of hard knocks.

"It's plain you have an extremely bad attitude to life and other people."

The judge handed Jones nine months of drug rehabilitation, disqualified him from driving for two years and said he must pass an extended driving test before being able to return to the road.

Stephen Dent, prosecuting, said when police tried to talk with Jones he pushed the woman from the driving seat of the Peugeot 106, revved the engine and drove off at speed without lights.

After heading towards Greenway Bush Lane, he went the wrong way up a one-way street before he went out of sight at the junction of Coronation Road. Two members of the public pointed out that he had turned left, and police found he had crashed into a kerb in Clift House Road.

Mr Dent said when police pulled their car in front of the Peugeot, Jones moved forward, revved the engine and gently drove into the front side of the police vehicle, wedging himself in.

He then got out and ran, but was caught up and arrested and found to be "quite clearly intoxicated".

In interview he gave a statement saying he had been the driver of the car and he had driven off because he was wound up by his partner.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for being involved in a burglary of Games Scene, in Fishponds Road, last Christmas, in which £10,000 worth of PlayStation games were stolen.

A suspended 26 week sentence for that offence was activated.

David Martin, defending, said his client had almost served the equivalent of a year's prison sentence while remanded in custody.

He said any sentence involving drug rehabilitation would be a challenge to him, which would benefit the public as well as him. He said: "If he does offend he will be back and he will get no sympathy."

The judge said he would deal with Jones if he did come back.