A DANGEROUS driver made a futile getaway attempt on a children’s bicycle after smashing his car into a metal barrier in the early hours.

Jake Moore rammed a car into a set of railings in Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, before being spotted fleeing the scene on the white and pink bike.

The 21-year-old’s reckless driving was first picked up by police when he raced his burgundy Mercedes the wrong way around a roundabout right in front of one of the force’s patrolling cars.

Officers switched on their blue lights and gave chase as Moore began to accelerate away.

At Seaside Roundabout the car left the road, crossed the pavement and careered into a set of metal railings at the junction with Lottbridge Drove.

Officers spoke to the car’s three passengers at the scene but Moore made off from the crash site on foot, leaving behind a solitary black Adidas trainer.

Police then received a call from someone who had seen a man sprinting through the town and the force launched a search of the area.

He was found wearing one shoe and riding a small white and pink bicycle shortly afterwards.

The man was identified as Moore, a mechanic of Brittany Road in Hastings.

The force also enjoyed a fairytale ending as the shoe he was wearing matched the one left at the crime scene.

The incident happened at about 1.23am on December 18, 2018.

Moore was arrested and charged with driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop after a road traffic collision, failing to stop when required by police and dangerous driving.

At Lewes Crown Court on December 16, Moore was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.

He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, pay £700 costs and was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

He was found guilty of dangerous driving following a trial, and had pleaded guilty to all other offences at a previous hearing.

PC Duncan Ford, of the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Response Team, said: “The manner of Moore’s driving was extremely dangerous, and he put not only his own life, but also the lives of his passengers and other road users at significant risk.

“Had there been another vehicle travelling along that stretch of road, or driving on the correct side of the roundabout at the time Moore was on the wrong side, I have no doubt that a head-on collision would have been inevitable and could potentially have resulted in serious injury or worse.

“People in Sussex can report incidents of dangerous or antisocial driving by texting 65999 or visiting the Operation Crackdown website. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

Operation Crackdown is a joint initiative run by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and Sussex Police which gives the Sussex community an opportunity to report specific instances of anti-social driving and riding as well as any abandoned vehicles.