DANGEROUS driver Liam Chapman has been jailed after stealing his mum's car and leading police on a high-speed chase on Mothering Sunday.

Chapman, 28, of Cowen Close, Crewkerne, took his mother's car without her permission to go and buy heroin in Chard on March 11 and careered along Windwhistle Hill on the A30 at 80mph, ignoring police sirens to stop.

He then started overtaking other vehicles, causing other motorists to take evasive action to avoid a crash, Taunton Crown Court heard.

Police gave up the chase but later passed a turning and found the blue Nissan Juke he was driving had crashed and flipped onto its roof after causing damage to road signs which cost £400 to repair.

Chapman appeared at Taunton Crown Court today (July 20) and was sentenced to 14 months in jail for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and for taking the vehicle without his mother's consent.

Prosecutor Harry Ahuja said Chapman's mother, Mandy Chapman, was at her daughter's house celebrating Mother's Day when her son asked to use her phone to search for a job.

Chard & Ilminster News:

The court heard Ms Chapman had only recently got the mobility car due to a medical condition and when she found out about the incident, she said "I hope he is dead."

Mr Ahuja said: "She says should couldn't understand why her son had done this.

"Although her son was very sorry for what he had done, she felt it was too little too late."

Defending, Emma Martin said Chapman admits he made a 'grave error of judgement' as his mind had been 'clouded' by drugs he had been taking.

She said Chapman had lied to his family and himself about the true extent of his addiction to heroin.

"He was going to get drugs in Chard when the collision occurred," Mrs Martin said.

"To say it has been a wake-up call for him is a big understatement."

Mrs Martin said Chapman did not run from police and admitted to a motorist that he had been driving his mother's car.

Mrs Martin then called Chapman's mother to speak at the stand.

Ms Chapman said her son is 'not a bad person' and thinks he would benefit from support for his drug addiction.

"I said I hope he is dead, I didn't mean it but I did at the time," Ms Chapman said.

"He has been off the drugs, he does help me when I need him, he is not really a bad person.

"He couldn't say sorry enough, he does a lot for me."

Recorder Taylor sentenced Chapman to 14 months in jail.

He is disqualified from driving for two years and was ordered to pay £155 victim surcharge.