A CANNABIS user led officers on a pursuit through Winchester villages before slamming into the rear of a police car.

Adam Robertson was spotted by police on the A34, close to Whitchurch, in a Vauxhall Movano van, looking nervous, on March 13 this year.

Officers attempted to pull Robertson over by illuminating their ‘follow me signs’ but at the last minute he indicated off at Bullington Cross, police were able to follow.

The 31-year-old travelled along the A30 Bullington Lane and continued onto Sutton Scotney, before coming back onto the A30, and at some points driving at 70mph, when the speed limit was 50.

In a bid to lose police, Robertson turned into Wonston Lane, which is a single track, but hit a curb and his van was described as “bouncing” down the road.

Siobhan Linsley, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court on Friday: “The original police car was joined by a second police vehicle who tried to make tactical contact with the defendant’s van which was insufficient to cause the driver to stop.”

Robertson then sped through Stoke Charity, and then Micheldever at 70mph – the speed limit is 50. Ms Linsley said: “The roads throughout the driving, through these villages, were described as narrow rural lanes, occasionally single track lanes.

“There was no opportunity for evasion for other oncoming vehicles given the speed that the defendant was going through roads.”

The chase finally came to an end in Micheldever Station when Robertson was boxed in by the police.

“The defendant instead of slowing in fact effectively tried to push the car out the way and hit the back of the police vehicle.”

The court heard that smoke was coming from Robertson’s van and caused the officer driving the car involved to lose control of steering.

Ms Linsley added: “The defendant had no regard for the safety of the officer that was in the car.”

He admitted that he had smoked a joint and had some cannabis. He was found to have five micrograms per litre of blood of the drug – the legal limit is two.

Robertson, of Greenacres Ring, Angmering, Littlehampton, pleaded guilty to failing to stop when required by a constable, dangerous driving and drug driving at the magistrates’ court.

In mitigation, Graham Burrows said that Robertson suffers from anxiety and self-medicates with cannabis.

He continued: “This is a man who has worked hard all his life, a man with anxiety issues that has been self-medicating. This is a man with a deficit of thinking. This is a bigger wake up call as he could ever have.”

The court was told that Robertson runs his own carpentry business and now has to employ someone to drive the van after he was disqualified.

Judge Susan Evans QC jailed Robertson for six months and disqualified him from driving for 39 months.