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Banned driver Spencer Bowen led police on high speed chase through Dover

A banned driver drove the wrong way along the A2 as he took police on a 120mph car chase.

Two weeks later, Spencer Bowen climbed behind the wheel of another car - and used it "as a weapon" to drive at a police officer.

Now, the 26-year-old father of one has been told by a judge: "It was a miracle that no one was seriously harmed or killed by your actions!"

Spencer Bowen has been jailed. Picture: Google.
Spencer Bowen has been jailed. Picture: Google.

Bowen, of Heathfield Avenue, Dover has been banned from driving since 2006.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how that didn’t stop him being at the wheel of a powerful Saab on June 30.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes told how he was spotted driving in Folkestone Road, Dover by an off-duty police officer.

During a chase, Bowen – who had two friends in the vehicle – mounted a kerb, drove through red lights and on the wrong side of a roundabout, and ignored a Keep Left sign as he sped through the streets.

The Saab then headed onto the A2 as the police car hit speeds of up to 120mph trying to keep up.

"It was a miracle that no one was seriously harmed or killed by your actions!" - Recorder Janet Bignell

It then travelled onto the wrong side of the A2, forcing drivers to take evasive action, the court heard.

After turning onto the A256 and then back onto the A2 towards Dover, police lost sight of the speeding Saab near Dover Castle.

The prosecutor said officers tracked the men to the St Margaret’s Bay Holiday Park, where Bowen was arrested.

A senior police officer later said it was the worst piece of driving he had witnessed in 14 years.

The case was heard at Canterbury Crown Court
The case was heard at Canterbury Crown Court

Then on July 12, Bowen was seen by police in Queens Street, Deal in a Vauxhall Signum with his partner.

Mr Forbes said when two officers went to arrest him, Bowen reversed, smashing into the police car and two other vehicles, hitting one officer and forcing his colleague to jump out of the way.

Again, the banned driver escaped – despite having his windscreen smashed by a police baton.

The judge, Recorder Janet Bignell, jailed him for two and a half years after he admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and assaulting PC Stephen Alexander. He was also banned from driving for three years.

She told him: "It is fortunate for you the police officer wasn’t more seriously hurt."

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