Police have released footage of an incident that left two officers injured and two culprits in jail.
Robert Wingate, 24, and Deimantas Palaima, 19, were put behind bars after they stole a white Mercedes Sprinter van from Sheffield and were chased up the M1 during the early hours of 2 December 2022.
In hot pursuit were two officers who were left injured after their car rammed of the road by Wingate and Palaima whilst trying to escape.
Police had initially tried to stop the stolen van as it headed north after being spotted near Leicester Forest East Services and attempts were made to box the stolen vehicle in and force it stop when the police car was rammed, causing it to swerve and hit the barrier at speed.
Palaima even filmed the pursuit on his phone as the van rammed into police vehicles – quite what that will have done for his ‘it wasn’t me’ defence is unknown.
Det Sgt Matt Dumbrell, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "It's a miracle our two officers who were rammed off the road were not seriously injured. This dangerous driving showed total disregard for the safety of others using the road and put the lives of others at serious risk."
The chase, which spanned four counties, was brought to a stop outside Barnsley after the van hit a stinger.
Three other police vehicles were damaged, including one which was hit by a wheel which came off the rammed car.
Wingate, of HMP Hull, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, aggravated vehicle taking, two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and four counts of criminal damage.
He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. He was also banned from driving for three years and three months.
Palaima, of Throstle Row, Middleton, Leeds, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, aggravated vehicle taking (being carried), two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and one count of criminal damage.
He was jailed for 25 months and banned from driving for 25 months.