A “MANIAC” driver mounted a central reservation and crossed on to the wrong side of the road moments before he struck and injured two pedestrians.

James Goddard, 28, performed the “dangerous” manoeuvre as he tried to evade pursuing police during a chase through Eastleigh.

Driving at speed, Goddard carried out undertakes and overtakes before driving around a traffic island on the wrong side of the road.

Then, as he approached Leigh Road, Goddard drove across the central reservation and on to the opposite side of the road.

As he went through the red light, his vehicle struck two pedestrians, who each suffered a broken leg.

Yesterday, at Southampton Crown Court, Goddard was jailed for two years.

He was jailed for a further 10 months for another incident of dangerous driving while on bail.

The court heard how the first incident took place in Eastleigh around 4.45pm on December 19.

Prosecutor Tim Moores told the court how police attempted to pull over Goddard, who was in a Red Ford Focus, after their onboard computer flagged up that the car was not insured.

Goddard was then filmed driving down Woodside Avenue, at speed, moments before he struck the pedestrians on Leigh Road.

Mr Moores said the two women each suffered a leg fracture, while one also suffered a fracture to her nose.

One of the women was left needing surgery to her leg following the crash.

Daily Echo:

Goddard dumped the Focus nearby in Keble Road, Chandler’s Ford.

He was not arrested until February.

The 28-year-old was due to appear in court last month, but did not attend the hearing and a warrant was issued.

Goddard’s barrister, Kelly Brocklehurst, said this was due to fears that his mother may die of illness.

Goddard was arrested on September 12 after another police chase, in which he caused more than £5,000 in damage to a police car and was Tasered.

Goddard, of Mayles Close in Wickham, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by driving.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to stop at the scene, failing to report a collision, dangerous driving, criminal damage, failure to surrender to court and driving without insurance.

In sentencing, judge Gary Burrell QC said: “This was extremely dangerous driving. You could have very easily killed someone. You were driving like a maniac.”

Goddard was also banned from driving for three years and will have to take an extended retest.