A man who left a restaurant at Crawley Leisure Park without paying his bill has instead paid a very hefty price.

Amit Naithani was challenged to pay his £20 bill as he exited Frankie and Benny’s.  He claimed the money was in his car but once he entered the vehicle he drove off.

The car turned out to be a stolen vehicle and the 30 year-old reversed into another vehicle whilst making his escape.

Police attempted to stop him but Naithani drove off at speed, breaking red lights and overtaking other cars before crashing on Three Bridges Road.

He was arrested whilst attempting to flee the scene.

Naithani pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, fraud by false representation, failing to stop, driving whilst disqualified, having no insurance and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

He has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, disqualified from driving for a further 4 years, ordered to pay a criminal courts charge of £900 and a victim surcharge of £100.