A man who stole a Ford Ranger and was chased down the A46 in Warwickshire and across three other counties has been sentenced to 18-months in prison. 

Shortly before midnight on 22 October, 29-year-old Darrell Duddin stole the keys of the vehicle, climbed out of the window of his shared, rented accommodation in Reading and drove through Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and into Lincolnshire. 

Duddin, of Beech Court, Lincoln, was working in the Reading area with colleagues.

After the others had gone to bed, he stole the keys of his employer's vehicle and climbed out of the bedroom window before making off with the vehicle.

Officers first saw him driving the as yet unreported stolen vehicle on the A46 north of Kenilworth. Having been required to stop, Duddin failed to do so.   

What followed was a pursuit into Leicestershire along the M69 where Duddin reached speeds of 115mph. He drove around the Fosse Park area of Leicester where officers describe Duddin's driving as dangerous, he failed to stop for several red lights and drove at excessive speeds. He then travelled onto the M1 northbound.  

Duddin eventually ended up dribing on the wheel rims (image via Lincolnshire Police)

Police used a number of tactics to try and stop him as he headed into Nottinghamshire.

As officers tried to box him in, he rammed into one of the pursuit cars a number of times causing it to leave the road. 

The officer was not injured but the police vehicle suffered significant damage.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) then joined the pursuit and a stinger was used, deflating one tyre.

Despite struggling to control his vehicle Duddin continued driving leaving a trail of sparks and chunks of metal from the now deflated wheel as it contacted the road surface.   

As Duddin negotiated the next roundabout the wheel rim from the Ranger spun off and came to rest on the actual roundabout. 

Duddin continued along the A46 driving on the spokes of one of the wheels and struggling to drive in a straight line.  

As he drove into Lincolnshire officers from the specialist operations team again used containment tactics and bought the pursuit to an end. 

Duddin has been sentenced to 18 months in prison (image via Lincolnshire Police)

The Ford Ranger was boxed in leaving Duddin nowhere to go. 

Again, he drove into the rear off a police vehicle which was in front of him blocking his path; the Ford Ranger was bought to a halt. 

With police cars in front, to his left side and behind him and an Armco barrier to his right Duddin had no where to go; he fled the vehicle and ran into the opposing carriageway, where he was detained and arrested. He was found to be in possession of a knife.