A Dagenham man who drove a stolen car the wrong way along train tracks in Hertfordshire has been jailed.

Kieron Francis, 36, of Fossway, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, April 5 to ten years in prison.

He was previously found guilty of two charges of endangering life by driving the car onto the rail tracks and by abandoning it there on July 15 2021.

Francis had already pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, two offences of criminal damage, unlawfully driving on the railway tracks and abandoning the vehicle. He was cleared of stealing the vehicle.

Det Con Jim Simpson, from Hertfordshire Police, led the case. He said: “Francis’ actions on that day were extremely dangerous and it’s a miracle that no-one was more seriously hurt."

At around 9.30am on the day in question, police were made aware that a stolen Land Rover had travelled into Hertfordshire from Essex.

The vehicle was located in Cheshunt and officers from Essex Police’s Road Policing Unit attempted to speak to the driver.

The vehicle then made off, injuring two officers and damaging several vehicles in the process, Hertfordshire Police said.

Officers from Hertfordshire attended to assist with the search and the vehicle was found abandoned on nearby train tracks.

As a result 66 train services were cancelled. Francis was arrested later the same month.