Thomas, 33, was being pursued by officers who had suspected him of carrying drugs.
Dramatic
video footage from the police patrol car showed his silver Vauxhall
Vectra tearing north up the M5 motorway near Worcester, weaving around
cars and lorries before hurtling along the hard shoulder.
Thomas, who had just picked up his children from school, then shot off at junction 4 near Hagley, Worcs.
Seconds later he raced through a red light and slammed into the side
of a Toyota carrying a man with his 80-year-old mother, who was hurt,
but not seriously.The chubby dad tried to flee on foot, abandoning his three screaming youngsters strapped in the back seat and his girlfriend in the front.
Officers wrestled him to the ground after 20 yards.
Thomas, of Dudley, West Mids, admitted dangerous driving while disqualified and was jailed for 22 months. It was his sixth dangerous driving conviction.
