A van driver who left a trail of destruction after a rush hour police chase in a “moment of madness” is now behind bars.

Ben Moisey, of Ilex Close, Colchester, crashed into three police cars, two buses, three cars, a brick wall and a post box during the dangerous driving incident in June, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Sentencing him to 22 months in prison, Judge Rupert Overbury said Moisey had mounted the pavement and driven on the wrong side of the road – adding that the chase happened during the morning rush hour, as children were going to school.

He said Moisey had been under the influence of drink and drugs and had shown no regard for the safety of others on the road.

The 32-year-old admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, criminal damage, two offences of assault by beating and failing to provide a urine specimen.

According to his solicitor, who said his client had a drug problem, Moisey described his driving as a “moment of madness”.

The court heard he had 84 previous convictions, including two for dangerous driving and nine for driving while disqualified.

In addition to being jailed, Moisey was banned from driving for 47 months.

Russell Butcher, prosecuting, said a police officer started following a red Ford Transit van driven by Moisey, whose wife was a passenger, in London Road, Stanway at around 7.55am on June 8.

The officer activated his blue flashing lights and the van appeared to stop but had then reversed into the police car, colliding with the front of the vehicle.

Moisey had driven off pursued by the police car, but finding himself in slow moving traffic he had again reversed towards the police car forcing the driver to turn into a garage forecourt.

Moisey had then swerved towards a marked police car travelling in the opposite direction and drove the wrong side of a keep left bollard in Lexden Road into oncoming traffic, forcing vehicles to move out of the way.

During the pursuit Moisey had collided with three cars, two busses, a brick wall, a post box and three police cars.

After coming to a halt with a police vehicle blocking his door, Moisey had run off and after his arrest he had spat at two police officers.

Liam Edwards for Moisey said: “I concede this was an appalling piece of driving from someone who has driven appallingly on previous occasions.”