AN armed robber is back behind bars after he was jailed for ramming police cars during a 60mph helicopter chase.

Ashley Melvin, from Appleton, led officers on an early morning pursuit through Appleton, with the police helicopter called in to track him as he fled through residents' gardens.

On Thursday, March 8, the convicted armed robber and drug dealer was jailed for a year at Warrington Crown Court.

Shortly before 4am on Wednesday, February 8, police patrols spotted a suspicious vehicle on Ackers Road in Stockton Heath and tailed the Volkswagen Golf onto Chester Road.

The car came to a stop behind an unmarked police vehicle at traffic lights before the bridge on Lumb Brook Road.

When the marked BMW activated its emergency lights, the unmarked car reversed in an attempt to box the Volkswagen in.

But Melvin rammed the police cars in a bid to force his way out, damaging both.

The 29-year-old turned onto Bridge Lane before heading onto Dale Lane, travelling at 60mph in a 30mph zone.

Melvin, of Dale Lane, 'squeezed past' parked cars and came close to contact with several vehicles.

He then stopped his car on Dale Lane - with the vehicle then rolling backwards down a hill - before fleeing through the back gardens of properties on Bridge Lane.

With the assistance of the police helicopter, he was arrested at around 5am.

Melvin was previously jailed in 2009 for a series of armed robberies committed by a gang of seven, who targeted convenience store in Orford, Fearnhead and Grappenhall for cash, cigarettes and scratch cards.

He was also convicted of supplying class A drugs, having been found in possession of white powder originally believed to be cocaine - although it was later found to be fake.

At the time of the police chase, Melvin was banned from the roads having been convicted of dangerous driving in September 2015.

Last week, recorder Simon Parrington jailed him for 12 months and banned him from driving for a further three years.

Melvin will also be required to take a retest once his disqualification has lapsed.

He had earlier admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to provide a specimen and failing to cooperate with a preliminary test during a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court in February.