Driver arrested after police car rammed in Staffordshire chase

The black 4x4 hit the police car in Cannock before leading officers on a five-mile pursuit, which eventually came to an end in Stafford.

The driver carried on even after police had put two stinger devices down, shredding its front tyres.

The drama unfolded on Friday night at around 9pm when Staffordshire Police officers sent out to search for a 'high risk' missing person in Cannock were confronted by the driver of the 4x4.

Shortly afterwards the 4x4 struck the patrol car and sped away from the scene.

The vehicle was later spotted by a different police patrol team as it was travelling on the A34 towards Stafford.

A police pursuit began, with officers following the 4x4 towards the town centre when the driver of the vehicle refused to stop.

The chase eventually ended near St George's Hospital in the town.

A police spokeswoman said: "It started in Cannock when we were looking for a high risk missing person.

"The driver was male. He rammed a police car in Cannock with two police officers inside it. They are okay, thankfully.

"The vehicle was located again by police travelling along the A34 Cannock Road towards Stafford and a pursuit began when the car failed to stop for police.

"The pursuit went through Stafford where on two occasions it was stung but continued to drive without any tyres.

"The vehicle eventually stopped at St George's in Stafford."

Stafford's policing team released images of the 4x4 involved showing its front tyres completely shredded, with one wheel almost stripped to its drum.

A post on their Twitter feed on Friday said:

A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, possession of cannabis, driving under the influence of cannabis and taking a motor vehicle without consent. He has been bailed.

It was not the first time police were led on high-speed chases through Stafford in 2016.

On July 27 a dramatic pursuit followed after a gang robbed a jewellers in Cheshire and fled down the M6 prompting 10 patrol cars, two police helicopters and armed officers to give chase.

It ended near Catch Corner roundabout at junction 13 but not before one of the raiders fell out of the getaway van as it went around an island in the wrong direction. The four men involved have since been jailed for a total of 30 years after admitting robbery.

Meanwhile, in January a trio of van thieves were caught after a 40-minute high-speed hunt through Stafford which ended near Hixon Airfield.

All three have since been jailed and are now behind bars for a string of vehicle-taking offences.