A 23-YEAR-OLD man who narrowly avoided numerous head-on collisions during a police chase has been jailed.

Jacob Walsh headed in the direction of Settle, North Yorkshire, after deciding to try and evade a police patrol in April of last year.

A pursuit ensued, during which Walsh drove the wrong way around roundabouts and in the direction of oncoming traffic before colliding with a vehicle close to Airedale General Hospital, near Keighley.

Walsh ran off on foot but was caught by officers.

He was found guilty of dangerous driving, drug-driving and several document-related offences at court.

Walsh, of Albert Drive, Halifax, was jailed for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149.

PC Chris Howarth, of North Yorkshire Police's operational support unit, said: “This was a shocking case of dreadful driving.

"Walsh showed absolutely no regard for the safety of other road users that day.

"The consequences of his actions were bad enough and, were it not for the fact that there were only a few vehicles on the road due to the tight lockdown restrictions at this time, the outcome could have been even worse.”