A Range Rover driver has been jailed after police said “it was a miracle no-one was killed” during a 45-minute pursuit.

Michael Maughan, of Fern Hill Lane, Harlow, “put lives at risk” by driving on the wrong side of the road and on pavements at up to 70 miles per hour in 30 mile per hour limit roads, Essex Police revealed.

On November 8, Colchester magistrates court jailed the 27-year-old for 12 months and disqualified him from driving for five years.

Maughan was also ordered to pay a total of £272. He had previously admitted driving dangerously and driving without insurance.

Sergeant Paul Brady said: “Our officer put himself in harm’s way in order to bring the pursuit to a safe conclusion.

"Maughan drove with complete disregard for the safety of other road users and it was a miracle no-one was killed or seriously injured."

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Police were alerted to reports of the Range Rover trespassing in pursuit of game on land in north-west Essex on October 16.

The Range Rover left the scene but was soon located by a police helicopter in Cambridge Road, Newport.

Two marked patrol vehicles attempted to stop the Range Rover at 3.14pm but Maughan failed to stop, hitting one of the police vehicles and disabling it in the process.

Metropolitan Police joined the pursuit after it reached Enfield.

A second, unmarked, Essex Police vehicle was rammed by Maughan as he continued to try to escape.

Just before 4pm, police stopped the Range Rover, bringing an end to the pursuit. Maughan was then arrested at on suspicion of dangerous driving.

One officer suffered minor injuries in a crash and received hospital treatment but was back on duty the next day.

Sgt Brady added: “Not only did he exceed the speed limit for the majority of the time, Maughan also ignored red lights, drove on the wrong side of the carriageway and mounted the pavement near pedestrians as he attempted to evade justice.

“But the Rural Engagement Team are a dogged lot and despite Maughan’s desperate attempts to escape from them, they were not going to let it happen.”