Van driver in lengthy high-speed police chase ends on wrong side of dual carriageway

Helicopter footage has been released showing a van driver reversing into a police car and then leading them on a high-speed chase on the wrong side of a dual carriageway.

Oliver Howlett missed on-coming traffic "by millimetres" when he headed south on the wrong side of the A189 in Blyth, Northumberland, Northumbria Police said.

The 29-year-old was jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted a string of driving offences, the force said.

Howlett, from Lingcrest, Beacon Lough, Gateshead, was already banned when he was spotted behind the wheel of a Mercedes Sprinter van, deliberately holding up traffic to allow a horse and cart race to be held on public roads.

He tried to ram traffic officers and in turn they tried to stop him by driving into his vehicle as he sped along country roads.

But in pictures captured by a police helicopter, he refused to stop and headed down a slip road and the wrong way onto the A189, almost colliding with on-coming traffic.

Howlett finally stopped the van after one too many near misses and was arrested nearby.

After the hearing, Sergeant Glen Robson said: "This was a man who had no regard for other road users and put the life of innocent people at risk.

"Not only has he driven in a dangerous and reckless manner but he has deliberately tried to ram police officers off the road and it is a miracle that he did not kill anyone."