A BANNED driver rammed into six vehicles during a two-mile rush hour police chase which only came to an end when his van smashed into pillar box, a court heard.

Ben Moisey is charged with 14 offences after a red Ford Transit smashed into a postbox and electrical unit in Lexden Road, Colchester, just after 8am on Friday.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard police were alerted to a man being abusive at the Best Western Hotel in Marks Tey.

Officers then saw the van being driven along London Road, Stanway, close to the junction of Villa Road and motioned for the driver to pull over.

The bench was told once he did, police pulled up behind but the driver reversed the van into the front of the police car.

Kristal Penrose, prosecuting, said the van then sped off down London Road and attempted to ram another approaching police vehicle meaning officers had to reverse the car into Straight Road.

The court then heard the Ford was being driven on the wrong side of the road as it negotiated a roundabout before turning into Lexden Road where it smashed into a Ford Kuga near Church Lane, then a wall and and Audi Q7 before continuing towards the town centre.

It is said the driver then pulled into St Clare’s Road at 40mph and collided with another police car before heading out onto Fitzwalter Road.

As the van sped back into Lexden Road, it was driven on the wrong side of the carriageway and onto the pavement where it smashed into a bus and then a Citroen Picasso.

The chase came to an end when the van hit a police car and smashed into the post box.

Miss Penrose said the driver ran off towards Vint Crescent but was later arrested by police who found a man hiding in a garden.

She added: “A member of the public said to police a man was lying in his front garden.

“He made threatening gestures but was later arrested by police and identified.” It is then alleged Moisey spat in the police car as he was driven to hospital and then at officers.

The 32-year-old, of Ilex Close, Colchester, entered no plea to charges of criminal damage and dangerous driving at the court hearing. Magistrates heard Moisey will admit those charges and plead to others including assaulting a police officer, failing to stop when required, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen when he appears at Ipswich Crown Court on July 9.

Gemma Lee, defending said Moisey, 32, had been battling severe mental health issues and had been left distraught after hearing about the death of his wife’s grandfather on the day of the chase.

Moisey was denied bail and was remanded into custody.