24-year-old Ben Wilde from Hemel Hempstead has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and other driving offences following an incident in the town on October 12.

Appearing at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (October 25) he pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police and driving an uninsured vehicle .

Hertfordshire Constabulary says Wilde was travelling in a blue Citroen Picasso at around 2.30pm on October 12. When police stopped and attempted to arrest him in Long Chaulden, the vehicle moved off and was driven away from the scene, “putting the safety of the community at risk”, police said.

A police helicopter search led officers to find the car abandoned in Pipit Walk in Apsley.

Following enquiries, Wilde was arrested and charged.

Wilde was sentenced to a year in prison, ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge, banned from driving for 42 months and required to pass an extended driving test after this period.

Detective Sergeant Paul Burton, of the Local Crime Unit, said: “Following this incident, enquires to identify and locate the driver were successful which resulted inthe arrest and charge of Ben Wilde.”

DS Burton added: “Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident, however, the manner of his driving on that day put the safety of members of the community at risk.

“He will now have time to reflect on his actions.”