A ROGUE driver fled police at 100 miles an hour and caused thousands of pounds in damage to a Royal Mail van and garden wall.

Robert Blackmore told police officers that he “hated” them, before fleeing from a roadside stop.

The 31-year-old of Butneys, Basildon was stopped by police in Southend Road, Corringham on March 18.

He shouted abuse at them before accelerating off and turning around, and driving straight at an officer who had to run out of the way.

He then fled at speeds of 100 miles an hour, going the wrong way around the Five Bells junction roundabout headed towards Canvey, and police were forced to abandon the pursuit.

Later on in the year, Blackmore was driving a Ford Kuga that did not belong to him around roads in Basildon, narrowly avoiding hitting a mother and child near Whitmore Way.

The police were chasing him, and Blackmore ended up crashing into a parked Jaguar, garden wall and a Royal Mail van in Chesterford Gardens.

He failed to stop at the scene and fled to the Craylands estate at around 1pm, where police later found the car abandoned with between £2,000 and £3,000 of damage to it.

There was also thousands of pounds worth of damage done to the Royal Mail van, garden wall and other parked car.

Blackmore was not arrested until June 17, when he was caught on a motorbike talking to an ex-partner.

He attempted to run from officers on foot but was caught soon after.

He appeared at Basildon Crown Court via video link yesterday, admitting three counts of driving whilst disqualified, two counts of dangerous driving and five summary offences including driving with no insurance and failing to stop.

Mitigating, Cyrus Shroff said that Blackmore had lost both his parents earlier this year.

He said: “He has struggled with mental health issues and stopped taking his medication, which is his own fault but exacerbated by lack of sleep.

“All he can say now is that he is truly ashamed of his offences he has committed.

“His offending is totally ruining his life and everyone he cares for. He hasn’t met his two month old child.

“Every day that is a stark reminder of how he has to change his life.”

Recorder Richard Thomas said that immediate custody was the only way to suitably punish Blackmore and he jailed him for two years.