A dangerous driver has been jailed for 15 months after he reverse rammed a police car several times during a chase through Wiltshire.
JohnBoy Sykes intentionally and repeatedly backed his van into a police car while trying to evade officers during a high-speed pursuit on May 28, 2021.
The 30-year-old, of Easton Lane in Chippenham, has now been sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
A concerned caller rang 999 on the date of the incident and police then tried to stop Sykes’ van in Corsham – but he accelerated towards Thingley at speeds of more than 80mph.
At one point, the van approached a junction and appeared to come to a stop.
Sykes then reversed into the police vehicle behind him, damaging the pursuing vehicle's bonnet and causing pelvic injuries to the officer at the wheel.
After the collision, the fleeing motorist drove off again, then reverse-rammed the police vehicle twice more on other occasions during the rest of the chase.
He and a passenger stopped and abandoned the van, then tried to flee on foot and hide from justice.
Sykes was later arrested and, at his sentencing at Swindon Crown Court on July 21, put behind bars for 15 months.
He has also been disqualified from driving for 24 months.
Sgt Mike Tripp welcomed the sentencing and spoke out about the defendant's dangerous behaviour.
He said: “Sykes was intent on evading police and was adamant that nothing would stand in his way.
“He reversed at speed into the police car on several occasions before running from the scene and hiding at the Thingley travellers' site.
“He caused extensive damage to the police vehicle and, while it was fortunate that the police officer was not seriously injured, he did require rehabilitation treatment for pelvic injuries as a result of the incident.
“I am pleased Sykes has been given a custodial sentence.
"Our officers work tirelessly to protect the public from dangerous individuals and incidents of this nature will not be tolerated.”
In an emergency, people can report dangerous driving by calling 999. Other, less urgent, information can be reported on the wiltshire.police.uk website or by calling 101.
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