Two women have been jailed after police chase across south Essex culminated with a dog walker nearly being mown down on a housing estate.

Tessa Burkes, 28, of Eastbrooks, Pitsea, and Melanie Stacey, 28, of Long Riding, Basildon, both unemployed, were sentenced at Basildon Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

They were initially arrested on Sunday afternoon after a dog unit on patrol at Tarpots, Benfleet, spotted a van, believed to have been stolen.

Police tracked the white Citroen Berlingo up the A13 to the Five Bells roundabout, Basildon, and attempted to get the vehicle to pull over - when it didn’t a chase ensued.

Officers pursued the van along Nethermayne, Basildon, and into Markhams Chase, Laindon, where it mounted the pavement and narrowly missed Diane Bunce who had to jump into a bush to avoid being hit.

Diane, who lives in Basildon, was walking her dogs close to Jermayns, when she saw the white van come screeching around the corner.

She said: “I suddenly saw the white van and it was driving in a bit where cars couldn’t drive down.

“It came round up the footpath and then it cut across everybody’s front lawns. I had to jump into the hedges with my dogs so it didn’t hit me. It went so fast past me.

“It was a white van with red writing on and it looked like the side door was open.”

After the van stopped, the two women from inside, got out and fled. Traffic officers stopped the suspects and arrested them.

Police dog Cesar later found a coat that had been discarded in bushes nearby.

A quantity of meat, believed to be worth about £200, was also found at the scene in shopping bags.

Stacey admitted thefts from TK Maxx on Friday, November 27, 2015 and from the Co-op in Leigh on Sunday as well as failing to stop for police. Burkes admitted theft of petrol, worth £99, from a BP petrol station in Wickford last Friday.

Stacey was jailed for 22 weeks for two counts of theft, failing to stop for police and activating a suspended sentence. Burkes was sentenced to six weeks and ordered her to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Inquiries about the stolen van are continuing.