A man who had smoked a wrap of cocaine before crashing a car into a hedge during a police chase has been jailed for 16 months.

David Navarro was behind the wheel of a car he had taken without the owner’s permission in London when a police officer saw him leaving a service station on the westbound carriageway of the A14, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When the police car pulled up behind him Navarro immediately took a sliproad off the A14 at Wherstead and drove towards Tattingstone, said Charles Falk, prosecuting.

He ignored the blue flashing lights and siren on the police car and drove at speed, overtaking cars on a series of bends and also overtook a van on solid white lines.

The Vauxhall Corsa driven by Navarro came to a halt after crashing into a hedge and he had run off.

He was arrested after the police helicopter was called out and he was seen hiding, said Mr Falk.

Navarro, 23, of London, admitted aggravated vehicle taking on June 22 last year and was jailed for 16 months and banned from driving for two years.

Navarro together with Sadiq Ayuba, 24, of London and Abel Teclab, 22, of London had also denied an offence of aggravated burglary at a house in Blyford Way, Felixstowe earlier the same day. They were found not guilty after the prosecution offered no evidence against them on that charge.

Jeremy Lynn for Navarro said his client had travelled to Felixstowe to buy drugs and was on his way back to London when he was pursued by police.