A dangerous driver rammed a stolen van into a police car while driving at speed in an attempt to evade capture.
Michael Hobbs, 35, from Barry, became involved in a police chase on June 29 after a police officer recognised the Transit van he was driving as being stolen.
He drove at speeds of 60mph through the streets of Barry shortly before midnight with his lights off in order to lose the officer who was chasing him but when that didn't work he reversed into the police car and rammed it.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard there was no suggestion Hobbs had stolen the van but he was found to be in possession of it after police were called out to reports of two men acting suspiciously in a van.
The van was seen driving in Church Road, Barry, by a police officer who began following the vehicle.
Prosecutor Meirion Davies said the car turned into Robins Lane without slowing down and mounted a footpath as it did so.
It then proceeded at speed, at around 60mph in a 30mph zone, passing through give way junctions and no entry signs without stopping.
At one point the van slowed down and a passenger left the vehicle and ran away on foot but the officer was unable to give chase due to the defendant remaining in the van.
Hobbs then accelerated away but before the officer could react the van reversed and rammed the police car on two occasions.
The officer then left his vehicle and saw Hobbs making off on foot from the van but 30m later the officer caught up with the defendant and detained him despite Hobbs threatening him with a screwdriver.
He was arrested and interviewed but later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving whilst disqualified.
The court also heard that Hobbs was serving a 16-month suspended prison sentence for wounding and cocaine possession at the time of the offences.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Williams said: "The driving you carried out demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the rules of the and the safety of others.
"This was deliberate and persistent offending and you deliberately rammed the police car which was chasing you."
Hobbs, of Llewellyn Street, Barry, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for four years.
