Watch: Joyriders lead police on 30-mile chase after stealing a BUS

This is the dramatic moment a group of joyriders led police on a dangerous chase when they broke into a depot and stole a BUS.

In startling scenes that are reminiscent of the 90s action film Speed, the 14 tonne vehicle can be seen hitting speeds of 50mph as it is pursued by officers.

Incredible dash-cam footage shows the single-decker driving through red lights, mounting pavements and swerving across the wrong side of the road.

The heart-stopping video also shows the £12,000 bus driving the wrong way around a roundabout and smashing into walls as it hurtles down residential streets.

John Burton, 38, Peter Loveland, 39, and Thomas Tibbs, 21, had all been drinking when they stole the bus from the depot in Dudley, West Mids.

They were were spotted by a police helicopter in Albrighton, Shrops., five hours later at 2.50am on March 31 before five squad cars tried to stop them on the ground.

The chase saw two of the bus’ tyres shredded when police stingers were used in a bid to stop it on two different occasions.

They were eventually caught when a third stinger was used and the men tried to flee on foot in Coseley, West Mids., not far from where it had been stolen.

Burton, of Telford, Shrops., who was behind the wheel has now been jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.

Loveland, of Tipton, West Mids., and Tibbs, of Stourbridge, West Mids., were jailed for a year and six months respectively at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Sentencing, Judge James Burbidge QC said: “You say the bus mysteriously appeared outside the pub and you got on board.

“What followed required significant police resources.

“It was driven at up to 50mph and was obviously being pursued by police but did not stop.”

The court heard Burton, who has 37 previous convictions, was banned from driving and had been drinking when he got behind the wheel of the Sandwell Travels Bus.

He went on to knock down a road sign, clip a kerb and rip off part of its bodywork in a collision with a fence as he was egged on by his two passengers.

Prosecutor Ian Windridge said the joyriders caused £10,000 worth of damage to the vehicle and carried on even after stingers were deployed.

The vehicle continued on the wheel rims – and even overtook a car – while leaving a tell-tale trail of smoke and sparks in its wake along Penn Road in Wolverhampton.

None of the three defendants admitted stealing the bus but all pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking on the grounds of either driving or being carried in it.

Andrew Mitchinson, defending, said “It is only by the grace of God that serious injury was not caused to anybody.”