A driver high on drink and drugs has been jailed after a 130mph chase ended when he smashed his Bentley into a police car. Richard Bowser was wanted on suspicion of assault when police spotted him in his 550-horsepower Bentley Continental GT on the A68 near Tow Law, in County Durham, on May 23. Bowser, who police say had taken a vast quantity of cocaine, crossed into oncoming traffic to escape officers - starting a chase which would reach speeds of up to 130mph between Tow Law and Willington. Bowser, of Percy Street, Bishop Auckland, was seen to carry out multiple high-risk manoeuvres, darting past traffic and pedestrians at ‘terrifying’ speeds. One of the pursuing officers later described witnessing a young girl watch in horror as the Bentley careered past her. Showing no signs of stopping, Bowser was finally slowed down on his way out of Willington when he attempted to take a sharp bend at 90mph, but instead mounted the kerb and collided with a stationary police car that had been waiting ahead of the pursuit at the junction with Oak Avenue. A police volunteer photographer, who was a passenger in the vehicle, captured the jaw-dropping moment that all four of the Bentley’s wheels left the tarmac seconds before impact. The 44-year-old, who police said had consumed a 'vast quantity of cocaine' tried to flee on foot - but was tasered. He's now has now been jailed for 18 months and police have condemned his behaviour. “Bowser’s actions were appalling, and his recklessness could so easily have had catastrophic consequences," said Inspector Ian Leach, of Durham Constabulary's Roads Policing Unit. “He demonstrated a total disregard for the safety of others as soon as he got behind the wheel of his car under the influence of alcohol and cocaine." “The outcome of this incident could have been fatal, and it is by sheer luck that those he crashed into escaped with only minor injuries. The 44-year-old was later charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop and assault. Appearing at Durham Crown Court last week, he was convicted of dangerous driving, drink driving and drug driving, and was handed an 18-month prison sentence, disqualified from driving for 45 months, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.