A drug addict who drove along pavements during a high-speed police chase through Oxford has been jailed for six years.

Edward Scovell drove a high-powered stolen Vauxhall Corrado at speeds of up to 100mph during a 20-mile day-time pursuit which endangered pedestrians and other drivers, Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday.

He was caught after a tyre burst in Oxford's Cowley Road, the car mounted the pavement and hit a police car, injuring an officer.

The 28-year-old was sentenced to two years for the aggravated vehicle taking. He was also jailed for another three years for burglary and driving offences. Scovell, of Mulberry Close, Crowthorne, Berkshire, was also ordered to serve a further 366 days after the court heard he had been released early from a previous prison sentence on licence.

Scovell had been spotted by police in a stolen car in Cowley on March 12. After realising he was being followed, he headed back to Oxford at high speed.

Marked police cars joined the chase and the defendant headed along Abingdon Road and Donnington Bridge Road, speeding through red traffic lights and reaching 70mph in a 30mph limit.

Miss Preston said: "As you will appreciate, at that time of the morning, there were a number of cars on the road at that time and a number of pedestrians." The chase ended when a front tyre burst and Scovell tried to drive along the pavement. Miss Preston added: "Pedestrians had to get out of the way." The court heard that £12,000 of damage was caused to the car.

Two passports were found in a holdall belonging to Scovell in the car. Scovell admitted to two burglaries from homes in Oxford.

Zoma Angelidez, defending, said Scovell had turned to hard drugs after being traumatised after seeing people killed while completing National Service in South Africa, where he had moved when he was just two. She said he had witnessed the killing of children as young as 13.

Recorder Conrad Seagroatt, QC, described the car chasing offence as "a horrendous example of aggravated vehicle taking".

Scovell was told he would initially serve the 366 days from his previous sentence.

In addition to that, he was sentenced to a total of five years for carrying out four burglaries in Wokingham, the two in Oxford, two charges of driving while disqualified and failing to provide a blood specimen after the car chase.

Scovell asked for seven other burglary and driving offences to be taken into consideration, and was banned from driving for four years.

Story date: Saturday 04 September

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