A dangerous driver who crashed into a campervan as he made off from Oxford police has appeared before a crown court judge.

Melvin Faria, 23, was subject to a nine month suspended prison sentence for drugs offences when, in July 2020, he fled from police through Cowley and Littlemore.

Then behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra, he made off at speed when a police officer tried to stop his car.

The ensuing 10 minute pursuit saw Faria drive at speed, go through red lights and overtake other vehicles in Cowley and Littlemore, before he turned into a dead-end and ditched his car.

Almost exactly a year earlier, he had received a nine month suspended jail sentence from a judge in Wood Green, North London, for drug offences.

Oxford Mail: Click here to sign up to the Crime and Court newsletter Click here to sign up to the Crime and Court newsletter (Image: Newsquest)

Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Thursday (June 8), Faria, of Norfolk Avenue, Haringey, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and admitted being in breach of the 2019 suspended sentence order.

Andrew Frymann, defending, said his client was on the cusp of completing a course at the British Jewellery Academy, after which it was expected he could obtain an apprenticeship in the industry.

Judge Maria Lamb adjourned sentencing until July 7 and ordered a pre-sentence report from the probation service.

But she warned Faria that he must not take the fact she had ordered a report from the probation service as ‘holding out any indication of what will happen on the next occasion’.