[kellyhound]

U.K. This was the horrific moment Christopher Pedley was caught on CCTV weaving in and out of busy traffic before crashing his car into a van while being chased by police.

The 36-year-old - who has 37 convictions for driving while disqualified - was being pursued through Fenton after officers spotted him driving an uninsured car.

After snaking through busy afternoon traffic along Victoria Road, he 'shot out of a junction' and straight into a van.

He then drove away from the scene before he was finally stopped and arrested by police.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard police first spotted Pedley in King Street.

Prosecutor Naomi Nelson-Cofie said: "Officers initially noticed the defendant in a vehicle which was picked up as having no insurance.

"Two officers pulled up alongside the vehicle and saw two men inside. They asked the driver - the defendant - to switch off the engine.

What he did was accelerate hard, mounting the pavement and manoeuvring around concrete bollards before rejoining King Street. A pursuit followed."

CCTV footage from Victoria Road, which was shown in court, showed Pedley swerving in and out of traffic. He then turned onto Leek Road, where the collision occurred.

Miss Nelson-Cofie said: "The van driver described how the defendant 'shot out of the junction'. He saw the vehicle but couldn't manoeuvre at all before the car went straight into the side of the van.

"The defendant continued to drive off for a short distance and the pursuit ended in Cauldon Road."

The court heard the chase covered a total distance of three miles.

Pedley, of Brundall Oval, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He also admitted two charges of theft and interfering with a vehicle relating to separate incidents.

The court heard he has previous convictions for dangerous driving and dishonesty as well as 37 for driving while disqualified.

Scott Ashdown, mitigating, said: "Mr Pedley is not a stranger to the criminal justice system. It has been intrinsically linked to the lifestyle he has led and the addictions he has suffered from.

"He has made giant steps towards putting this lifestyle behind him and is getting a hold on his drug use."

Recorder Stephen Thomas sentenced Pedley to a total of 100 weeks in prison. He said: "You come to this court with an appalling record of dishonesty and driving matters. You are a hazard to other road users.

[spudigitti]

He's a geezer innit