A MAN has been jailed after colliding with several cars and failing to stop for police officers.

Speeding motorist James Harty, 36, of The Street, High Roding, Dunmow, has been jailed for 18 weeks.He appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 22 after admitting failing to stop after a collision at an earlier hearing.

At about 8pm on July 8 last year, officers from the Essex Police Operational Support Group were on a routine patrol in Witham when they witnessed a speeding Mercedes drive past them in Braintree Road.

Officers indicated to the driver to stop, but it sped off colliding with a car in Cressing Road.

The Mercedes eventually came to a stop in Shaw Road when it struck a second car and the driver and passenger ran off, abandoning the car in the middle of the road.

Inquiries identified the driver as James Harty, who was arrested and charged with multiple road offences to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on February 9.

Roads policing officer, PC Fiona Rayner who led the investigation, said: “James Harty continued to drive at speed despite knowing that he was being directed to stop by officers.

“He went through a red light, drove on the wrong side of keep left bollards several times and struck two vehicles in his effort to evade arrest.

“His disregard for the safety of others could have ended disastrously if he had collided with a pedestrian.”

Harty admitted failing to stop at the scene of an accident and has been jailed for 18 weeks, disqualified from driving for 14 months and fined £154.

Three other charges were not given a separate penalty – failing to report an accident, driving without due care and failing to stop for police.