This is the face of a man who a judge has described as having an 'utter contempt for the law' and a 'serial, petty criminal'.

Nathan King, 44, was described as a danger to the public after engaging in a high-speed pursuit with the police.

Such were the speeds King, from Hardwicke, reach that the car he was driving went airborne at one stage.

The self-confessed addict recklessly swerved in and out of traffic, drove at speeds far in excess of the limits, jumped numerous red lights at junctions in Gloucester.

At Gloucester Crown Court this week he was jailed for 15 months.

Prosecutor Lucy Stoker told the court officers in a marked police vehicle were approaching a set of traffic lights on green in Churchdown village when a Vauxhall Corsa driven by Nathan King crossed in front of them, having jumped the red lights.

“The police quickly turned around and attempted to stop the car by activating blue lights and the siren," she said.

"The driver initially complied by pulling into the junction at the community centre.

“However, as the police got out of their car to question the driver, he sped off along Cheltenham Road East towards Innsworth Lane.

“The police then embarked on a nine minute pursuit of the driver.”

“Because the roads were mainly residential, the police for safety reasons maintained a gap of around 100 metres but they were travelling at speeds in excess of 70mph to keep up.

“The officers saw King overtake a double-decker bus on a nearside bend just before the technology park in a manner that was described by PC James as being very reckless.

“They also witnessed the car completely take off after hitting one of the bumps as part of the area’s traffic calming measures and watched in horror as the vehicle landed back on the road in front of oncoming traffic and a stationary bus, with people on the pavement.

“King was then seen driving through numerous red lights, narrowly missing vehicles which had to take evasive action. King then tried to get through a gap on the central reservation of a dual carriageway.

“When the pursuit reached Bruton Way in the city centre King mounted the concrete barrier and travelled down Metz Way where he ignored another red traffic light at the Asda junction before increasing his speed to 85 mph in a 40 mph zone.

King was apprehended by other officers after he had abandoned his vehicle in Chase Lane, the court was told.

Joe Maloney defending said: “King had been released from prison a month prior to this incident but his medical prescription was not in order. He foolishly got into the car with the intention of obtaining some money to purchase his medication.

“This was a man who was desperate. He has since got his medication under control, having been remanded in custody.

"King has a long list of previous convictions which reflects his life of addiction to a variety of drugs and alcohol.

“In prison he has come to terms with his addiction and has taken measures to eliminate them from his life in the future.

"He has shown significant remorse and has seen the error of his ways.  He is grateful that nobody was injured because of his reckless driving during this nine minute period.”

In March of this year King was disqualified from driving for 15 months for driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, the court heard.

King pleaded guilty yesterday to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by police officers and driving whilst disqualified on June 19, 2021.

The judge disqualified King from driving for two years and six months from the date of release from prison.

King was ordered to take an extended driving test once the disqualification period ends.

The judge, Recorder James Bromige, told King: “The police describe your driving as reckless, but in my judgement it was much more than that.

"It was idiotic and selfish and above all it was very dangerous to members of the public and other road users.”

He said: “You are a serial petty criminal who has utter contempt for the law and the courts with multiple offences being committed whilst on bail and numerous breaches of court orders.”