Man jailed after flipping car during police chase

A man who flipped his car during a police pursuit has been jailed for 16 months.

Jean-Luc Coombe, 29, of Forth an Venegh, Bodmin, Cornwall, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Thursday and was sentenced for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop for police.

He had previously admitted the offences at Bodmin Magistrates' Court on 8 November.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187.

Coombe, who does not have a driving licence, failed to stop for traffic officers in Bodmin on 6 November and crashed his car in country lanes.

Traffic Sgt Phil Brown said he had been patrolling in an unmarked police car when he came across a Mini being driven without insurance.

"I put the blues on to indicate to the car to pull over but it made off," he said.

"Over the next eight or so minutes, Coombe was driving recklessly, overtaking on blind bends head on into oncoming vehicles, failing to observe his surroundings and as he pulled off into the back lanes, lost control temporarily when all four wheels left the ground.

"The pursuit continued through the country lanes towards Wadebridge and as I rounded the corner the car had clipped the bank and was on its roof in front of me."

Coombe was arrested and taken into custody before being charged.

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