A MAN who fled from police speeding at 80mph through red traffic lights and headbutted a police officer in the groin has been jailed.

Benjamin Thomas Wilson, 29, of Princess Road, Ferndown, fled from police after they caught him driving a car without an MOT in Crichel Road, Bournemouth on July 10 last year.

After eventually being stopped, Wilson, who had taken his mother’s car without consent, resisted officers trying to arrest him and headbutted PC Bowes in the groin at the police station.

Wilson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, taking a car without consent, assaulting an emergency worker and resisting a police officer and appeared for sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, February 19.

Prosecuting, Michael Mason said: “The car had an expired MOT and police followed that car, illuminating lights and police sirens.

“The response, he accelerated harshly away from the police towards Holdenhurst Road, towards Springbourne roundabout, overtook a car causing it pull over to the curb.”

Mr Mason said Wilson was crossing lanes, speeding through red lights and travelling at 80mph in a 30mph zone.

He told the court the police officer chasing said if there had been a car coming in the other direction, the consequences would have been “catastrophic”.

Wilson eventually stopped the vehicle and exited, hiding in a garden nearby.

Police had to use spray to subdue Wilson, who was resisting the arrest.

In the holding cell, he was “lashing out” and headbutted PC Bowes to the right of his groin, the court heard.

The court also heard how Wilson had a host of previous convictions, including racially motivated harassment, battery, assaulting an emergency worker. He had driving offences as well including failing to stop after an accident and driving without a licence.

Mitigating, Rob Griffiths said: “That outline from Mr Mason makes pretty grim reading.

“It is fair to say when you speak to [Wilson] as an individual it presents a completely different picture.”

Mr Griffiths said Wilson had turned his life around, had stopped taking drugs, was repaying his mum for the damage to the car and trying to get back in contact with his child.

He invited Judge Jonathan Fuller QC to impose a suspended sentence and “take a chance” on the defendant.

Despite this, Judge Fuller QC sentenced Wilson to 21 months in prison, 13 months for the dangerous driving, four months for taking the vehicle and four months for assaulting PC Bowes.

Judge Fuller QC said: “If you are a changed person in the last six months, you build on that whilst you are inside.

“If you get into trouble again the sentences will get longer.”