A VAN driver who rammed three police cars, two buses and three other vehicles during a rush hour cocaine fuelled rampage has been jailed.

Ben Moisey was behind the wheel of a red For Transit van which he had driven from Marks Tey towards Stanway shortly before 8am when officers beckoned him to pull over.

He eventually did so, but when the police car pulled up behind him in London Road close to the junction with Villa Road, he suddenly reversed and crashed into the vehicle before driving off.

As he approached Straight Road, Moisey, 32, pulled over again and as officers arrived to his rear he attempted to smash into them again but the driver managed to pull into the nearby BP garage.

Moisey then continued down the road swerving towards another approaching police car, driving on the wrong side of the carriageway and through the middle of the busy traffic.

He then clipped a Ford Kuga before turning into Church Lane where he hit an Audi Q7.

Moisey then pulled the van back onto Lexden Road heading towards Colchester town centre where he was still being followed by police and forced his way into St Clare Road.

He travelled along the side road to a sharp junction with the adjoining Fitzwalter Road. Again, he stopped and reversed into a police car which had stopped behind him.

As he returned onto Lexden Road, he collided with two buses in quick succession and a Citroen Picasso as he passed traffic on the wrong side of the road.

The chase was brought to an end when Moisey hit a police car parked strategically across the road and he ploughed into a postbox.

His wife - who had been a passenger in the van - tried to take the blame as he hid in the front garden of a house in Vint Crescent but was quickly tracked down.

Police took him to hospital where he continued to be aggressive, spitting in the police van and at officers.

Moisey, of Ilex Close, Colchester, admitted dangerous driving, criminal damage, driving while disqualified and two counts of assault.

He has 31 convictions for 84 previous offences and had already racked up nine driving bans and driven while disqualified twice before.

Judge Rupert Overbury jailed him for 22 months at Ipswich Crown Court today, saying he would be failing the public if Moisey walked free.

He said: “This behaviour clearly demonstrates you have absolutely no regard for the safety of anyone - not even your wife.”

Liam Edwards, mitigating, said Moisey’s behaviour on Friday, June 8 was triggered by cocaine.

He said: “This was an appalling piece of driving from someone who has driven appallingly on previous occasions.”

“It was a moment of madness.”

When he is released from jail Moisey will be banned from the roads for 47 months.