A DRINK driver who deliberately rammed a police car during a high speed pursuit has been put behind bars for 17 months.

Kieron Logan, of Pound Road, Oldbury, was arrested by police just hours after appearing before magistrates on another drink driving charge.

The 34-year-old was bailed when he faced the Cannock bench to deny the excess alcohol charge and his actions later demonstrated he had a complete disregard for court orders, said Judge Amjad Nawaz.

He told Logan, who had 45 previous offences on his criminal record, that if someone had stepped in the way of his car during the chase they “would have lost their lives”.

The judge said Logan had repeatedly braked hard in front of the police patrol car causing the officers to react quickly, before ramming their vehicle causing £9,000 worth of damage.

At the time, Logan had been the subject of a three month jail term that had been suspended for a year on three charges of battery on his partner who was bitten and punched, added the judge.

Logan admitted driving dangerously, failing to provide police with a specimen and breaching the suspended sentence and the judge told him only immediate custody was the appropriate punishment.

Joanne Barker, prosecuting, said Logan faced the Cannock court on January 24, 2018, and that night he was seen driving too fast in Darlaston Lane, in Walsall.

He then accelerated away from police officers and they chased his car for seven miles and during the four minute pursuit Logan went through two sets of traffic lights at speed.

Miss Barker said he hit 94mph in residential areas and at one stage his car mounted the central reservation and struck a bollard before speeding off again with smoke coming from the back of the vehicle.

He then drove on the wrong side of the road at speed and finally, when his car was blocked in by police, he jumped over the bonnet of a patrol car and tried to make his escape on foot.

But officers with the aid of a police dog again gave chase and Logan was bitten before being arrested and became aggressive and smelled strongly of alcohol, added Miss Barker.

The judge further disqualified Logan from driving for three years eight months and ruled that his car should be seized by police.

Andrew Tucker, defending, said Logan had been depressed at the time because of troubles in his relationship. He said he accepted it had been a “disturbing” course of driving, but fortunately no-one had been injured by his actions.

The judge jailed Logan for 15 months for the police pursuit and ruled he should also serve a further two months for breaching the suspended sentence.