Nuneaton banned driver jailed over wrong-way pursuit
- Published
David Mumford was convicted of offences including dangerous driving and receiving stolen goods
A banned driver has been jailed for 20 months after driving a stolen van the wrong way along a busy road before crashing into another car.
David Mumford was chased by police down the M6 northbound before turning the wrong way onto the A444 in Warwickshire and driving at "high speed".
A police helicopter captured him crash into a car at a junction, external, before trying to flee the scene.
Mumford, from Nuneaton, was convicted of dangerous driving.
The 39-year-old of Coton Road, was also found guilty at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday of possession of cannabis, driving while disqualified and without insurance, and for receiving stolen goods.
The van he was driving, a Mercedes Sprinter, had been reported stolen to West Midlands police on 21 August by a delivery driver in Coventry, Warwickshire Police said.
The van Mumford was driving had been reported stolen to West Midlands police on 21 August
On 3 September, Northamptonshire Police began pursuing a stolen vehicle being driven with cloned plates.
The pursuit crossed the border into Warwickshire where Mumford drove in the wrong direction on the A444 carriageway.
The force had to abandon the chase due to the risk of a head-on collision with other vehicles.
A police helicopter continued to track the vehicle and saw Mumford hit a vehicle "at speed" after taking the junction into Newtown Road in Bedworth, the force said.
He and a passenger got out of the van and ran from the scene but were apprehended by officers.
Inside the van was a motorbike, which had also been reported stolen from an address in Coventry.
The passengers of the vehicle Mumford crashed into were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
PC Halfacree, from Bedworth Patrol Investigations Unit, said: "It's a miracle that no-one was killed as a result of Mumford's reckless driving.
"Frankly, even a provisional license holder should know that driving the wrong way up a 70mph max road is a phenomenally bad idea."
Mumford was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving license for 45 months and until he has passed an extended test.