A driving menace who went to prison six years ago for causing death by reckless driving was back in court after a high-speed chase in which he deliberately rammed a pursuing police car, writes Colin Fenton.

Jason Cox was spotted by police in the Rose Hill area of Oxford on November 15 last year and accelerated when they ordered him to stop. David Bright, prosecuting, said that in the chase, Cox struck kerbs and a parked car and forced other drivers to swerve.

In Mortimer Road, he reversed at speed with his wheels smoking, colliding with the front of the police car and causing extensive damage. He drove off again but was arrested soon afterwards. He admitted panicking after seeing the police car, knowing he was uninsured. Tests later revealed that he was over the drink-drive limit.

Samantha Cohen, defending, said Cox agreed that he put himself, the police and the public at risk. He had been drinking heavily after suffering a number of tragedies. Judge Julian Hall said at the Oxford Crown Court hearing: "I find it most incredible that you should go out and drink and then drive in the way you did, when you must have appreciated that six years ago, you had done the same thing and killed a passenger in a car."

Cox, 28, of Rose Hill, who admitted dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, having no insurance, damaging property and possessing a knuckleduster found in the car, was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was banned from driving for three years and ordered to take a driving test.

Story date: Monday 26 April

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