A THIEF charged at police in a stolen car before crashing down a bank.

Chris Hillman reached speeds of 95 mph in a 30mph zone as he sped away from officers on New Year’s Day.

The 29-year-old then crashed the stolen Ford Focus down a bank off Hartfield Road in Forest Row, near East Grinstead, and ran away from the scene.

He was found two days later after police investigated a property in Horam and was arrested for multiple offences.

Police received a report that Hillman had stolen the yellow car from his father’s house in Uckfield about 8.22am.

Officers responded and attended a house in Evelyn Clark Square, Forest Row where he was found in the vehicle.

As they exited their car, Hillman accelerated towards them but swerved at the last moment to avoid hitting them. He then sped away along Hartfield Road and reached speeds of 95mph before police lost sight of him.

PC Tom Thorpe said: “I started to open my passenger door, ready to get out. As Hillman saw us, he suddenly accelerated forwards at speed and my first thought was that he was going to ram us.

“I don’t know quite how he missed us, but he swerved around us and was revving the car extremely loudly and wheel spinning, creating a cloud of smoke form the tyres.”

After carrying out a search of the area, the car was found crashed and abandoned in a lane leading towards Ashdown House School. There was no sign of Hillman, so police conducted enquiries to locate him.

Following his arrest, he was remanded in custody and charged with aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, breach of a restraining order and breach of a non-molestation order.

Unemployed Hillman, of Tallwood Road, Horam, pleaded guilty to all five offences and was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, February 8, to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment. He was also disqualified from driving for 33 months.

PC Thorpe said: “The area was busy with other vehicles and it is incredibly lucky he didn’t collide with anyone.”