A man who rammed a police car and went on the run from court for four months was found hiding in his loft two days ago, a court heard.

A policeman leapt clear as Sean Clancy reversed at high speed into the patrol car after it blocked his escape route.

He had driven into the garage area of flats in Crawley after a chase through Ifield, Hove Crown Court was told.

Clancy refused to give up, despite being sprayed in the face by officers using pepper spray.

He drove off at high speed but, because he had been temporarily blinded by the spray, crashed into a parked car in West Green Drive, Ifield.

Marcus Fletcher, prosecuting, said an officer had to strike Clancy on the arms before he could be forced to the ground and handcuffed after the incident in February.

Clancy, 22, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and other motoring offences when he appeared before the town's magistrates on March 9.

The case was adjourned but Clancy failed to turn up to be sentenced on March 31 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police raided his home in Waterside Close, Crawley, on Tuesday and found him hiding in the loft.

The court heard that Clancy, an unemployed exhaust fitter, had never had a driving licence.

He had 15 previous convictions for 46 mainly motoring-related offences.

Mr Hussein said Clancy was father to three children, two of which are his own, which he looked after because his partner "had her own problems".

Judge Charles Kemp jailed Clancy for 15 months and banned him from driving for five years.