THESE are the terrifying moments when a fleeing driver at the wheel of a stolen camper van swerved into a patrol car trying to stop him and then leapt from the moving vehicle.

West Yorkshire Police today released dashcam footage of the police pursuit down a dark Queensbury road when three police vehicles attempted to box in the big heavy motorhome.

Andrew Mitchell immobilised two patrol cars and injured two officers in the chase at 6pm on October 24, Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Mitchell, 34, of Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, was unlicensed and uninsured when he failed to stop for the police with other vehicles and cyclists around.

The court heard that the camper van had been stolen from an address in Rawdon.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Andrew MitchellAndrew Mitchell (Image: Police)

When three patrol cars with blue lights flashing attempted to box him in to stop him, Mitchell swerved and struck one, pushing it across the road into a wall and a lamppost. The vehicle was immobilised and the two officers in it were injured.

Mitchell then hit a second police car, damaging the wheel arch and disabling it.

He mounted the pavement, narrowly missing parked vehicles and then turned into a cul-de-sac and jumped out of the moving van. It ran out of control before coming to stop after hitting a parked vehicle.

Mitchell went on to plead guilty to dangerous driving on Halifax Road and Simpson Street in Queensbury and driving without a licence or insurance.

He had 71 previous convictions for offences that included taking without consent, aggravated TWOC, vehicle interference and driving while disqualified.

His barrister, Stephen Uttley, said Mitchell never went more than 50mph in the pursuit and dropped to 20mph at some points.

It was not a deliberate act to ram the police car; he was swerving to avoid the patrol vehicle in front of him.

Judge Andrew Hatton said Mitchell had tried to break out of the police vehicles boxing him in, injuring two officers, before jumping from the moving van.

He jailed him for 75 weeks and he was banned from driving for three years on his release. He must pass an extended retest before he can drive again.