Heartstopping video shows Audi driver with toddler in the back ram cops during West Midlands chase

Heartstopping video shows a banned Audi driver who had a toddler in the back seat ram a police car during a high-speed chase.

Demetrious Nickoloau, 27, sped off in an Audi A3 after officers tried to pull him over for running a red light.

Dashcam footage shows Nickoloau hurtling along a dual carriageway, coming inches away from ploughing into several cars as he tried to escape. He hit speeds of 75mph in a 30mph zone as police pursued him across the towns of Bedworth and Nuneaton, Warkwickshire, on August 24 last year.

He was finally caught when two police cars boxed him in on the A444 towards Coventry before he tried to ram his way free. When he was arrested officers were shocked to discover an 18-month-old child strapped in the back seat of the car.

The £27,000 Audi Nickoloau was driving also had false number plates. Warwickshire Police released the nerve shredding chase footage after Nickoloau, of Binley, Coventry, was jailed for a total of 42 months at Warwick Crown Court.

He admitted assault, ill-treatment, neglect and abandoning a child and causing unnecessary suffering to a child and was jailed for 28 months. He was also sentenced to a further 14 months to run concurrently after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

He pleaded guilty to all the offences, including failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving whilst disqualified.

After Monday's sentencing, PC Simon Dalby, Roads Policing Officer, said: “Demetrious had a total disregard for the safety of other road users as he drove at high speed dangerously overtaking and weaving through other vehicles in an attempt to evade capture.

“He certainly had no concern for the safety of the public or the extremely vulnerable 18-month-old child that was in the back seat of his car and his sentence reflects this.

“Fortunately the pursuit was brought to a safe conclusion and following the sentence, Demetrius has now been denied the use of the roads for several years to come and will need to pass an extended retest before he can drive again.”