A FUEL thief who nearly ran over two young girls when he mounted the pavement in a bid to escape police has been jailed.

Ali Gocmen had just been trying to fill up with red diesel from a farm when he sped away from an unmarked patrol car.

As the 23-year-old hared through Bowerhill he cut a corner, narrowly missing two 11-year-old girls who were riding their scooters.

And when he was caught trying to hide in a friend's loft he said he thought the chasing car, with blue lights, siren and illuminated police sign, contained gypsies out to get him.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Gocmen was first caught stealing fuel from the Allington Farm Shop in Chippenham on Friday, June 12.

Shortly before midnight a worker saw a number of people at the diesel store and noted down a vehicle registration which led to Gocmen and an accomplice.

The following month, on Friday, July 31, he was spotted trying to steal more diesel from Hurst Farm at Worton, near Devizes.

A couple of neighbours got back to find him taking the fuel and as one tried to photograph him on her mobile he pulled his jumper over his face.

As he fled he smashed his van into a parked VW Golf, damaging the whole of the passenger side.

Police in the unmarked car on the edge of Bowerhill spotted his Transit van later that afternoon and followed while they called uniformed back-up.

But he spotted them and sped off before pulling over after they put the lights and sirens on.

As an officer, in plain clothes but with a stab vest on, got out of the car he put his foot down again, doing a U-turn and speeding off past Melksham Oak Community School.

He went along footpaths to Wellington Drive, squeezing between railings and a lamppost and then went up towards Snowberry Lane.

Mr Meeke said: "It was an afternoon and children were playing. Two 11-year-old schoolgirls on scooters were on the footpath.

"The vehicle cut the corner of the footpath and came within a few feet of the girls. He stopped and ran into a house and tried to hide in the attic.

"The children were both very distressed: they thought the car was going to hit them. Both make statements describing their distress."

Gocmen, of Woodmand, Holt, admitted theft, attempted theft, dangerous driving and careless driving and driving without insurance in Bristol in August.

Gemma White, defending, said when he stole the diesel his van had broken down and then in July his brother died from an overdose, which left him distraught.

She said he had served two months in custody on remand and urged the court to impose a suspended sentence.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Blair QC said: "You drove in an appalling manner in a prolonged way including going in an area not designed for cars and going very close to two children who were out playing.

"That driving was utterly disgraceful and could easily have resulted in death."

He imposed a 15-month jail term, banned him from the road for two years and until he passes an extended test, fined him £300 and told him to pay £1,000 in court charges.