A ‘COMPLETE menace and danger on the road’ who led police on a ten mile chase along country roads has been jailed for 18 months.

Ashley Batchelor, 28, of Kidnams Walk, Whitminster, was told by Judge Jamie Tabor QC that his driving from Bredon to Hartpury had put himself and other road users at risk.

The judge said he had to lock Batchelor up to protect the public from him for as long as possible.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday Batchelor pleaded guilty to driving dangerously while disqualified between Tewkesbury Road in Bredon, Worcestershire, and Corsend Road, Hartpury, on Wednesday, July 9. He also admitted damaging a police car during the chase.

The court heard he had an ‘appalling record’ having made 49 previous court appearances for a total of 142 offences.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said that at11pm on July 9 a policeman in an unmarked car at Bredon saw a Subaru Forester car go by and suspected there was criminal activity going on. He gave chase and illuminated his blue flashing lights.

The chase came to an end when the defendant misjudged the width of Corsend Road.

As well as being jailed for 18 months Batchelor was also banned from driving for two years Judge Tabor said: “You are a complete menace and you are a danger on the road.”