A RECKLESS driver crashed into multiple cars in a Basildon retail park - then drove the wrong way down the A127 to escape police.

Daniel Dash caught the attention of police as he was driving a van in the Pipps Hill Retail Park in Basildon at 3.20pm.

The police had received reports of a cloned van in the area, and when they indicated for him to stop, Dash swerved away from them.

The 38-year-old then began to drive through parked cars, scraping them and causing damage as he did so, and then hit a Volkswagen Polo which had a couple and their twoyear-old child inside.

The woman, who later gave a witness statement, said she feared for the safety of her son and that “her child could have driven better than the driver was doing”.

Dash then fled from the police towards the direction of Festival Leisure Park, not stopping at any junctions, before entering the A127 on the wrong side of the carriageway.

At this point police officers felt it was too dangerous to continue the pursuit and were stood down.

However, when they were on Christopher Martin Road, they spotted the van again, driving towards Wickford, and it then got stuck in traffic.

Dash began reversing and driving forwards into the cars surrounding him to flee police again, but officers ran up to the passenger door and opened it.

In the passenger seat was a woman, and Dash tried to run from police in the face of a taser, but he slipped and fell.

He was searched and found to be in possession of three balls of heroin.

Dash, of HMP Highpoint, later admitted dangerous driving and possession of heroin following the incident on August 23, 2018, and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Mitigating, Mitchell Cohen said there was potential for injury, but there was no injury.

Judge Ian Graham said: “It was a prolonged pursuit and put other road users in danger and causing damage to other vehicles and driving in a dangerous manner while police were in pursuit of you.”

Judge Graham jailed Dash for 28 days, as he had already served more than two years in prison for previous offences.