A driver who hospitalised a police officer and exceeded 120 miles per hour in a high-speed chase has been jailed, fined and banned from the roads.

Lloyd Morrison, 29, of Bob Anker Close, Plaistow, was sentenced to two years and three months behind bars for his “shocking and dangerous” driving in Dagenham.

He has also been disqualified from driving for 10 years and ordered to pay the courts a £1000 fine.

Sentencing him on Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court the judge, Recorder David Farrer QC, said it was difficult to imagine a more serious type of driving.

The 10 minute chase took place on June 24 after Morrison failed to stop when police spotted him driving a stolen Ford Fiesta ST.

When they began chasing him he drove the wrong way down a road - crashing into a police car and lorry in his determination to get away.

Prosecuting, Zarah Dickenson said: “This was shocking and dangerous driving.

“Clearly he had a disregard for the safety of others and reached excessive speeds across busy roads and built up areas.”

She told the court that police drove at 120 mph down the A13 yet they still weren’t able to catch up with the car.

The Ford eventually collided with a lorry on Lodge Avenue - where Morrison got out and ran across the road with a mysterious red box.

At this point a man in an Audi TT, thought to be in convoy with Morrison, took hold of the box and sped off. The box was never recovered, Ms Dickenson explained.

While trying to escape arrest Morrison hit one of the officers in the face. The officer was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Once arrested a four-inch bladed lock knife was found in the waistband of Morrison’s trousers.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and having an article with a blade or point.

Addressing the defendant, who appeared by video link from his cell, Judge Farrer said: “You were prepared to drive that car in a way which threatened serious injury to those involved in chasing.

“You didn’t care one way or the other, your only concern was to get away from the police regardless of consequences. The way you behaved was quite disgraceful.”