A MAN who drove a stolen BMW the wrong way down the A12 near Colchester during a police chase has been jailed.

Nathan Saunders drove for a mile with officers in pursuit before dumping the car at a campsite near Spring Lane.

A helicopter was also scrambled in the chase, which took place on February 9.

Saunders was jailed for three years at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

Richard Mandel, prosecuting, said Saunders tried to get away after an attempt to get him to stop failed and he did a U-turn in the black black BMW X6.

He was chased by officers down the hard-shoulder of the London-bound carriageway from Stanway forcing other vehicles to get out of the way to avoid crashing into him.

The car was later found at a campsite near Spring Lane, Colchester.

After dumping it there he had taken a Ford Mondeo which crashed into another car while reversing and he was arrested.

Saunders admitted dangerous driving, handling stolen goods – the BMW - and aggravated vehicle taking, a charge relating to - the second car.

As he passed sentence Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC told Saunders: “One’s mind boggles at the carnage and maiming of life and limb you narrowly avoided but risked.”

Stephen Levy, mitigating, urged the judge to give Saunders, of Aviary Close, Canning Town, credit for his guilty pleas.