'Menace' driver tried to bite officers after chase

A driver whose behaviour was described by police as "the most shocking" they had ever seen has been jailed.

Martin Stokes, 20, failed to stop for officers and was chased along the M4 in Wiltshire, reaching speeds of up to 140mph, before driving the wrong way up the A419 and the A420.

Swindon Crown Court heard that he rammed police vehicles as they tried to block him in, before assaulting and threatening to kill emergency workers.

Stokes, of no fixed abode, admitted a string of offences at a hearing on 10 July, and was jailed for two years and eight months at Swindon Crown Court earlier. The judge described him as "a complete menace" who he would jail for longer if sentencing rules allowed.

Insp Neil Duffin, from Wiltshire Police, said: "To be honest this is quite frankly some of the most shocking driving that we've seen."

Mia Pitt, prosecuting, told the court Stokes had 24 convictions for 83 offences before the police chase, including criminal damage, assault on police, and theft.

She also told the court at the time of the high-speed pursuit on 8 July, he was disqualified from driving and on conditional bail.

Stokes, who had a 15-year-old passenger in the Ford Mustang he was driving, was first followed by Avon and Somerset Police officers at about 21:00 GMT after going through three red lights on the M32 in Bristol.

He then crashed into a Nissan Qashqai and sped off on the eastbound M4, prompting Wiltshire Police to take on the pursuit.

His Honour Jason Taylor told the court Stokes reached speeds of more than 140mph while narrowly avoiding other drivers.

"After a prolonged pursuit you rammed two police vehicles and injured one [officer], while causing thousands of pounds of damage," he said.

"You tried to headbutt and bite two officers, and threatened paramedics who were trying to help you."

Sentencing Stokes, who appeared via video link from HMP Bullingdon, the judge said: "You seem to think the laws of the road do not apply to you. You are a complete menace and the longer you are off the road the better for everyone.

"My maximum [sentence] is two years and I wanted to go higher - but I can't."

Francesca Chaplin, defending, told the court Stokes had shown "some remorse", adding he was not intending to threaten officers.

She added Stokes has been attending drug and alcohol courses, and has had a cleaning job in prison.

Insp Duffin added: "Martin Stokes has shown himself through his actions to be a dangerous, cowardly criminal who had no hesitation to put the public at a great deal of risk.

"He chose to use his vehicle to ram police officers, [and] clearly had a complete disregard for everybody's safety - including the safety of the child who was on board."

Police bodycam footage showed Stokes, while handcuffed on the floor, tell one officer: "Let me up. Just you and me, one-on-one... I'm telling you I'll hurt you when I see you again. You're going to hurt, I'm going to kill you."

Wiltshire Police said Stokes was linked to two further thefts that occurred at Go Outdoors in Swindon, in June 2026.

Temporary PS Ben Greening, of the Wiltshire Police roads policing unit, said: "Even after his arrest, Stokes continued his aggressive behaviour, making threats to kill officers who had been carrying out their duties to protect the public and critical care paramedics who were present in trying to provide Stokes first aid.

"This sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending and the significant danger he posed to our communities that evening.

"His actions were completely unacceptable and he has rightly been held accountable for them."

Stokes previously pleaded guilty to a range of charges including dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker, and making threats to kill.

He was disqualified from driving for more than six years, and will have to take an extended driving test when his ban ends.

He will serve 50% of the sentence before being released on license.

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