Learner driver jailed for 120mph motorway chase
A tearaway learner driver hit speeds of 120mph as he was pursued by police in a 36-mile motorway chase, a court heard.
Several attempts were made by eight police cars to stop Scott Flisher in his Seat Leon between junctions 9 and 4 of the M20.
Each time he evaded arrest by ramming police cars, causing £31,611 of damage – before crashing and being caught as he ran off.
The 25-year-old, from Rochester, admitted dangerous driving, criminal damage and having no licence and insurance.
He was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for two years and nine months.
Maidstone Crown Court heard the father-of-four was on his way to a boot fair in Ashford with a passenger just before 6am in August when he sped past a police car near junction 8 for Hollingbourne at about 85mph.
The officer activated his blue lights and siren but Flisher accelerated to 110mph.
He left the motorway at junction 9 for Ashford, drove through two sets of red lights, then headed back to the M20 on the London-bound side.
The Seat hit 120mph before a second police car joined the chase at junction 7 for Maidstone.
Three more force cars were added at junction 6 for Aylesford and another three at junction 5.
Prosecutor Craig Evans said: “The officers attempted to stop him with a rolling road block at 100mph. He evaded it by undertaking and using the hard shoulder at speeds of about 120mph, narrowly avoiding a collision.”
At one point, Flisher threw a crowbar out of his window.
He left the motorway at junction 4 for Leybourne and crashed on the central verge when faced with a lorry on a roundabout.
Attempts were made to box him in but Flisher rammed his way out. An officer who had approached on foot had to leap out of the way to avoid injury.
Flisher, said to have ADHD, drove another 30 metres before being pinned against railings. He then jumped over them and ran across the carriageway before being caught.
Recorder Mark Van Der Zwart said the public purse had to pay for repairs and four police cars were not available for emergencies.