A CINDERFORD man who led police on a dangerous chase when he had three teenaged girl passengers in a van has been jailed for nine months.

On November 1, Lee Jones, aged 23, formerly of Valley Road, Cinderford, but now lives in Monmouth, had been given the chance of a suspended sentence with unpaid work and a rehab order.

But he was back before a judge at Gloucester Crown Court and admitted that he had failed to attend unpaid work and other appointments required by his order.

Judge Michael Cullum refused to give Jones another chance and implemented the nine months suspended sentence in full.

Last month the court heard that Jones took a Transit van for a joyride from his uncle’s garage - and then, after picking up the three girls, he led police on a chase through Cinderford.

He drove so dangerously that police abandoned the chase and he was able to return the van undamaged to the garage he had taken it from.

Jones admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a valid licence and having no insurance.

As well as a nine months jail term suspended for 18 months Judge Cullum ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work, a 15 day rehabilitation activity and a 30 day ’building better relationships’ community programme. He was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £800 costs.