A driver who collided with a taxi while fleeing from police in Ipswich has been jailed for 14 months.

Saber Messaoui stopped his car and ran off after the collision in Yarmouth Road, but was arrested after officers used a taser to stop him as he tried to escape over a fence, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The incident began at around 9.20am on December 29 when police officers in a marked car started following a Ford Fiesta driven by Messaoui near Ipswich railway station, said Peter Gair, prosecuting.

The officers activated the blue lights on their car in West End Road to indicate Messaoui, who had three passengers, should pull over.

Messaoui sped off and drove at 50mph in a 30mph limit in West End Road and on reaching the junction with London Road he drove over red traffic lights causing a Fiat to stop to avoid a collision, said Mr Gair.

Because of the “atrocious” driving conditions caused by heavy rain the police officers decided to stop the pursuit for safety reasons.

In Yarmouth Road, Messaoui crossed solid white lines and went the wrong side of a keep left bollard before colliding with the off side of the Ford Galaxy taxi causing a loud bang.

By then the police officers in the marked car had arrived on the scene and saw Messaoui stop his car 120m away from the collision and run off.

The officers chased him on foot and tasered him as he tried to climb over a fence.

Following his arrest the officers noticed he smelled strongly of alcohol and a roadside test showed he was just under twice the legal limit.

He was taken to a police station where he refused to give a further breath sample.

Messaoui, 24, of no fixed address, admitted dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a driving licence, possession of a wrap of cocaine and failing to provide a breath specimen.

He was jailed for 14 months and was banned from driving for three years and seven months.

Sentencing Messaoui, Judge Rupert Overbury described his driving as “dreadful” and said he had plainly been under the influence of alcohol at the time.