A HUNTSMAN has told how he and his Land Rover were commandeered by police in a high speed, offroad chase that went through fences and hedges.

David Jukes, 56, and a police officer drove about five or six miles across rough terrain before Mr Jukes, armed with a spade, helped make an arrest by jumping on a man’s back.

Police were chasing the men, one of whom was wearing a comedy wig, in connection with car offences.

One of the men is alleged to have caused damage to three parked cars hit by a Jeep in Carburt Road, Stockton, on Saturday and the men have been accused of being involved in vehicle theft in Cumbria.

The Northern Echo: Map showing route police chase took

Mr Jukes said that when he saw police cars bringing traffic to a standstill on the A66 between Barnard Castle and Scotch Corner, near Richmond at about 3pm on Monday, he decided to take a short cut home.

He cut up a back lane in his Land Rover Defender to East Layton, but stopped to let police cars overtake him.

Mr Jukes, who has been a professional huntsman in the area for the Zetland Hunt for more than 20 years and knows the area well, said: “There was a helicopter overhead and there must have been seven, eight, nine police cars.

“You could see this four-wheel drive pick-up, it was an Isuzu, flat out across a field. There were three police cars, BMW estates, chasing the Isuzu with these two lads inside, but of course the police estates were no good against the bigger vehicle.

“I indicated to a policeman, pointing at my Land Rover. In a millisecond a policeman was beside me and I shuffled over to the passenger seat. We were off at some speed, but I could not put my seat belt on, so I’m hitting my head on the roof.

“The Isuzu smashed through a brand new wire fence and it is over the bank and away. In the end, it must have burst through more than 12 fences and hedges and it was in some state by the end. It was exciting stuff.”

The suspects tried to make it back to the A66, but were blocked by a ditch, and the two vehicles ended up circling round a field near West Layton. Eventually the two men left the car and the bigger man fell to the ground. Mr Jukes jumped on his back while police detained the other.

The Land Rover, belonging to the Zetland Hunt, was damaged but will be repaired at police expense.

Police have arrested a 23-year-old man from Stockton and a 22-year-old from Wingate, east Durham.