An expectant dad who took off from police at twice the speed limit and drove the wrong-way down Thamesdown Drive has been jailed.

Swindon Crown Court heard Robert Kill was just days away from becoming a father – and already subject to a driving ban – when he got behind the wheel of a Ford Focus on May 19 this year.

Jailing the 29-year-old for 19-and-a-half months and banning him from the roads for three years and nine months on Thursday morning, Judge Jason Taylor QC blasted: “You have an entrenched record for driving offences and the adrenaline rush that you experience clearly outweighs your sense of responsibility to the wider public or respect for these courts’ orders.”

Prosecutor Colin Meeke said police officers spotted Kill on Cricklade Road in the early evening of May 19. They pulled him over near the junction with Penhill Drive.

After initially bringing his hatchback to a halt, the Ford driver sped off.

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Robert Kill Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

He accelerated to 60mph – twice the speed limit. At the junction with Thamesdown Drive he smashed into a Nissan Qashaqi and failed to stop.

Kill turned the wrong-way down the dual carriageway, driving into the line of traffic on Thamesdown Drive.

Officers elected to call off their pursuit as they were so worried about the potential danger to other drivers. He ditched the car but police were able to identify him from CCTV.

The court heard Kill had 14 convictions on his record for 23 offences. They included a robbery in 2009 for which he received a suspended sentence and a number of driving matters. At the time of the chase he was subject to an 18 week suspended sentence imposed by the magistrates last year for drink driving and other driving crimes.

Kill, of Inglesham Road, Penhill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to report an accident.

Defending, Nicholas Lee acknowledged his client had a poor record for driving offences and complying with court orders but attempted to persuade the judge to suspend any jail sentence.

The barrister said learning his partner of seven years was pregnant had resulted in a change in Kill’s life. The young dad, who also helped look after his frail mother, hoped to be a more responsible parent. His partner had nobody to help her look after the baby if he was jailed.

There was a realistic prospect his client could be rehabilitated, the lawyer told the court. He pointed to a six year break in his offending from 2010 to 2016 after Kill had benefitted from support from the probation service.

That claim was shot down by the judge, who pointed to the fact a pre-sentence report from the probation had given Kill an almost 90 per cent chance of reoffending.

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Swindon Crown Court

Jailing him, Judge Taylor said: “When I look at this case in the round I take the view that appropriate punishment - given the combination of the facts of the dangerous driving, your track record and the reality that you have been given multiple some might say merciful chances – can only be achieved by immediate custody.”

Kill was sentenced to 15 months for the driving matters and ordered to serve his 18 week suspended sentence on top.

He was given a three year driving ban with a nine month extension period to cover the time he is expected to serve behind bars. He must pass an extended retest if he wants to drive again.