A DRIVER who rammed a police car in Betws and shunted it 150 yards down a road in a bid to escape arrest has been jailed .

Philippa Andrea Simons, aged 49, eventually crashed her silver Ford Transit van down an embankment and into a fence.

But she emerged “kicking and swearing” and had to be taken to the ground by police, a Swansea Crown Court judge was told.

Simons admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for 18 months. She was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pass an extended driving test before getting her licence back.

Nicola Powell, prosecuting, told the court how on August 16, 2012, Simons was seen driving the van around Ammanford in a way that made police think she might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Pc Darren Jones was alerted and spotted the Transit in Betws Road.

Simons refused to stop and raced along narrow lanes towards Garnswllt.

Other police cars joined the chase and when Simons saw two of them coming towards her she tried to ram them.

Returning towards Ammanford, Simons entered Foundry Road and Pc Jones pulled his Volvo alongside.

Simons suddenly braked and got behind the Volvo, and then shunted it along the road.

Miss Powell said Simons was arrested and bailed.

On March 23, 2013, police in Carmarthen saw Simons trying to repair the bumper on the same Transit.

They asked her to move it to a safe location but she took the chance to race away, taking police on a 20-mile drive towards the Ammanford area.

At one stage police managed to place a stinger device in the road but Simons tried to swerve around it and only one tyre was punctured.

Simons carried on and reached 70 mph as sparks flew from the rim of the wheel.

Miss Powell said Simons eventually pulled into the driveway of her home at 20 Mount Crescent, Penllergaer, where she was arrested.

Simons explained she had been anxious to get home to feed her dogs.

She admitted a second offence of dangerous driving.

Her barrister, Frank Phillips, said she had been under the influence of drugs on both occasions.

Judge Paul Thomas said Simons had put the lives of police officers and members of the public in danger.

He told Simons, “I would be failing in my public duty if I did not send you to jail.”