A VAN driver from Teignmouth has been jailed for ramming three cars out of his way as he tried to outrun police in two different high speed chases.

Logan Crook went through red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road despite having his pregnant partner sitting in the passenger seat of the van.

His driving was so dangerous that police had to abandon their first chase in East Wonford, Exeter, but Crook was picked up again within minutes after heading into East Devon.

He crashed into one car when he raced onto the Clyst St Mary roundabout without stopping and into two more as he weaved through traffic queueing at Sandygate.

The pursuit only stopped because police used two patrol cars to force Crook’s van onto the grassy area in the middle of the roundabout where they were able to drag him out of the driver’s seat.

He tested positive for cocaine and cannabis at the scene but then refused to provide an evidential saliva or blood test after his arrest.

He was desperate to escape from the police because he was banned from driving because he has three previous convictions for dangerous driving. He was also on a suspended sentence for a road rage incident at a McDonalds drive-thru.

Crook, aged 23, of Ness View Road, Teignmouth, admitted dangerous driving, failing to supply a specimen for analysis, and driving while disqualified and uninsured.

He was jailed for a total of 15 months by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court and banned from driving for three years after his release.

He told him: ‘The driving was completely inexcusable and a very bad example of dangerous driving.

‘You damaged three other vehicles and were very lucky not to have injured anyone, including you and your passenger.

‘You were a disqualified driver who should not have been behind the wheel and there was also the offence of failing to provide a specimen.

‘There is a strong suspicion of drugs being an aggravating factor.

‘There is significant aggravation on your appalling driving record.’

The court heard how police tried to stop Crook’s van in East Wonford Hill, Exeter, at 6.30 pm on January 21 this year because they suspected he was a banned driver.

He set off at high speed, weaving through traffic, and the pursuit was deemed to be so dangerous that it was abandoned.

He was seen again driving towards Exeter on the Sidmouth Road and a second chase started.

He went up to 80 mph on the A 3052 and had his first crash when he raced onto the Clyst St Mary roundabout without stopping or checking for other cars.

The impact sent his van onto the Exmouth road but he did an illegal U turn at the entrance to Winslade Park and headed towards the motorway junction, where he came across stationary traffic.

He deliberately side-swiped two cars in an attempt to barge through the jam but police were able to force him onto the grass at Sandygate, where he was stopped and arrested.

Miss Kelly Scrivener, defending, said Crook has issues with mental health, anxiety and ADHD and panicked when he saw the police.

She said: ‘He should have stopped but anxiety and panic set in.’