A sentencing hearing for an Essex driver who fled from police in a stolen car and slalomed through A12 traffic before crashing into another car has been adjourned because he is in hospital.

Joshua Joyce, of Upper Rainham Road, Hornchurch, previously admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by police, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance and was due to have been sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

However, the court was told that Joyce was currently in hospital in Romford and the hearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Last month Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard that during a police chase in November 2022, 33-year-old Joyce sped past vehicles at 70mph in a 50mph zone, overtook cars on a roundabout, and mounted a grass verge as he tried to lose officers.

Joyce, who was driving a Mazda 2 during the pursuit, collided with a traffic cone and nearly hit roadworkers before a tyre flew off the car.

He still managed to carry on driving at 70mph and was heading towards Colchester city centre on Via Urbanis Romanae when he crashed into a Honda Accord.

Joyce, 33, was arrested at the scene whilst his passenger ran off, though they were detained by police shortly afterwards.

Wayne Ablett, prosecuting, said: “The vehicle was stolen, reported to police as stolen and the vehicle activated ANPR cameras.

Police followed the vehicle on to the Marks Tey interchange, heading towards Colchester.

"The vehicle performed an overtake on the roundabout and proceeded back on to the A12 on the slip road where the speed limit was 50mph due to roadworks.

“He swerved into lane two with no indication, then into lane one, cutting up vehicles and proceeding to undertake vehicles using a grass verge, launching stones and dirt onto the carriageway.

“He then collided with a traffic cone and narrowly avoided a collision with roadworkers near the traffic," said Mr Ablett.