A 'DANGEROUS' driver led police on a high speed pursuit through rural roads after he was spotted in a stolen car at the picturesque Waterperry Gardens.

Kane Jones, who had no driving licence, claimed he had only got in the car because he thought the driver had been drinking and that he 'panicked' when he saw officers.

The 23-year-old of Lodden Avenue, Berinsfield, near Wallingford, had already admitted one count of dangerous driving as well as driving without a licence or insurance.

Outlining the case at his sentencing hearing today prosecutor Cathy Olliver said police first spotted the stolen Vauxhall Antara at about 10am on January 10.

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Officers followed the vehicle, which had false licence plates, to Oxfordshire's renowned Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley.

On leaving the centre he was followed by police again and this time marked cars lit up their blue lights in a bid to stop Jones, who was the driver.

Instead of halting he sped off and led police on a chase for up to three miles, driving at speed along nearby rural roads.

During that chase, prosecutors said, Jones had to swerve to narrowly avoid hitting other vehicles in the road.

Eventually, Jones stopped the car in a field and police had to give up the pursuit after becoming 'stuck in the mud,' before chasing the fleeing Jones on foot into Bernwood Forest.

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Jones was finally cornered and caught in the woods.

When he was interviewed, he answered 'no comment' to the questions put to him but later admitted the offences.

In mitigation his defence barrister said that Jones suffered from ADHD and was 'immature' for his age.

The court heard that Jones - who has 27 previous offences on his criminal record - had offered to drive the car as a friend had been drunk and that he later 'panicked' when he saw police before driving off.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said the manner of Jones's driving on the rural roads was 'frankly madness.'

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He added that he found the idea Jones had chosen to drive because of the intoxication of his friend 'hard to believe.'

Jones was jailed for a total of 18 months and he was disqualified from driving for two years.