A man was injured when he tried to stop a fleeing car thief after a police chase.

The victim's glasses were smashed and he hurt his wrist during a struggle with Daniel Gowar, a court heard.

Police had spotted Gowar in a stolen Ford Escort in Lewes Road, Brighton, and chased him to flats in nearby Shanklin Road in September.

Robert Colover, prosecuting, said "A member of the public challenged him as he ran from the car and tried to restrain him. His wrist was injured and his glasses were smashed as a result.

"Police went to a flat at Shanklin Court where they found Mr Gowar and arrested him.

"He told them he had been asleep and did not know what they were talking about."

Gowar, 26, had been involved in another police chase a few days earlier in which he had crashed into parked cars, Hove Crown Court heard.

A marked police car tried to stop him after he was seen in a stolen Ford Fiesta in Denton Drive, Hollingbury.

He drove straight at officers in the car and in a marked police dog unit which joined the chase.

Mr Colover said the stolen car mounted the kerb and hit a yellow grit box on the pavement.

The chase continued until Gowar crashed the vehicle between parked cars and railings.

Gowar, of Shanklin Road, Brighton, pleaded guilty to assault, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and a shoplifting offence from Boots in North Road, Brighton, in July.

Piers Power, defending, said: "He is addicted to heroin and has been in and out of one or other of Her Majesty's institutions since he was 16.

"He realises that unless he addresses his drugs problem he will either die or go on to commit more serious offences which will attract heavier prison sentences."

Judge Charles Kemp jailed Gowar for two-and-a-half years and banned him from driving for three years.