A 20-year-old man who has never taken a driving test led police on a 100mph car chase on the M2 motorway, a court was told.

John Best, who was with three friends, swerved over three lanes, crashed three times and rammed a police car, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

The 15-minute chase began when Best, of Hawthorn Close, Gravesend, filled his Ford Escort car with £25 worth of petrol in Faversham and then fled without paying.

Edmund Burge, prosecuting, told how police were waiting for him on the M2 – but he refused to stop.

During the 4am chase along the London-bound carriageway, Best swerved repeatedly, before turning off at the A249 slip road.

Mr Burge told how the Escort went the wrong way around the roundabout before rejoining the M2 where the 100mph chase continued.

The car twice struck verges as Best lost control and on one occasion he reversed, ramming a police car.

Mr Burge said Best lost control again as the car headed towards Gravesend and smashed into a telegraph pole.

Best was eventually arrested after a struggle. He pleaded guilty to making off without paying for petrol, driving dangerously and driving when disqualified.

Shahmeem Purdasy, defending, said Best had never taken a driving test and had panicked when he realised the police were chasing him.

Judge Adele Williams, in sending Best to 12 months youth custody, told him: “Your driving was truly appalling. You could have killed those people in the car, yourself and other road-users.”

Best, who was convicted of failing to pay for petrol, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, was also banned from driving for three years.