A man who led police on two dangerous pursuits through Salisbury has been jailed.
Matthew Jewell, 45, of no fixed abode, admitted a string of driving offences. He appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on 20 October, where he was handed a custodial sentence.
The first incident occurred on the evening of Saturday (11 May) after officers were told a white MG, believed to be driven by Jewell, was parked in Robinson Grove, Longhedge. Jewell was known to hold an expired licence.
At around 10.30pm, the car left the estate and was pre-emptively stung by police.
Despite the damage, it failed to stop and was pursued along Fourmile Hill while straddling the central line with heavily deflated tyres.
Jewell continued to High Post Road and Gaters Lane, where the vehicle finally stopped.
He fled on foot through a ford but was tasered and arrested on the other side.
In a separate incident on Wednesday morning (2 April), officers were called to Pennings Road, Salisbury, where Jewell was reportedly found unresponsive in a Land Rover Freelander.
By the time police arrived, the vehicle had gone but was later seen on Devizes Road.
Jewell again failed to stop and led officers on a pursuit to Millstream Approach. A witness directed police to a nearby flat, where Jewell was discovered hiding in the loft.
He was sentenced for two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of driving without a licence, driving without insurance, failing to stop for police, and three counts of failing to stop at the scene of a collision. He was also punished for breaching a suspended sentence.
At Salisbury Crown Court, Jewell was jailed for two years.
He was disqualified from driving for three years and will have to pass an extended test before being legally allowed to drive again.
PC Ben Agate said: “Matthew Jewell is a prolific offender who, while on bail after being caught driving illegally in April, committed the second offence just over a month later.
“He put numerous lives at risk through his driving and it was fortunate that there were no injuries.
“Following his charges, he was remanded into custody and he has now been jailed for his actions.”
