A 'DRIVING addict' has been sentenced for dangerous driving for a fourth time — after he led police on a chase through Ryde, drove for more than a mile after losing a wheel, then crashed the car before fleeing the scene.

One-armed Joseph Baker, 25, of Chapel Street, Newport, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on August 6, where he was sentenced for two counts of driving whilst disqualified and one count of dangerous driving.

He had admitted the offences at a previous hearing.

The court heard a green BMW was spotted twice by members of the public, once on July 1 and again on July 4, speeding through the streets of Ryde.

At 9.03pm on July 4, the BMW, which was being driven by Baker, overtook a police car at Pell Lane — resulting in a police chase that ended with Baker crashing and abandoning the car.

Emily Lanham, prosecuting, said: "The chase started at Pell Lane but, due to the high speed, it became unsafe to continue the pursuit.

"The car was later spotted, having collided with a Renault and a Peugeot, and the BMW had lost a wheel.

"The BMW was then driven a further one mile without one of the wheels."

The court heard Baker had previously been convicted of driving while disqualified in 2017 and 2018.

Read more: One-armed man's 80mph car chase

Defending, Kelly Brocklehurst said: "This is hardly the worst case of dangerous driving your honour will have seen.

"The defendant's urge to drive is an addiction that gives rise to a very divided individual.

"He is kicking himself for putting in danger the things he has built up in his life that could have protected him from this kind of life."

Baker was sentenced to 14 months in prison and his existing driving ban was increased by three years and seven months.

Judge Roger Hetherington said: "It has been said you have an addiction to driving, but if you can't control that addiction then in order to protect the public you must face a custodial sentence."

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