AN armed man who shot at a police car during a high speed chase in Worcester has been jailed for 14 years while his two passengers have also received long jail sentences.

There was wailing in the public gallery as Gerard Doherty, the man who pulled the trigger, wept and put his head in his hands as he learned his fate at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

There was a heavy police presence during the day-long hearing including armed officers, inside and outside the court building.

After the sentence was announced there was sobbing and a woman called out to Doherty as he was led away, telling him: "I love you with all my heart."

Between them the gang, who had been 'tooled up' with an assortment of weapons for reasons that have still not been revealed by the men involved, were jailed for 33 years.

The sentences, handed out by Judge James Burbidge QC, came after dramatic scenes in Worcester on March 10 last year, starting with a police chase on the A449 before the shot was fired by Doherty who was the front seat passenger, aiming the gun across the front of the driver and through the open car window.

The Volvo, after travelling at speeds in excess of 120mph, later crashed in Blackpole and weapons were seized including a shotgun, a machete, an axe and two knives with Doherty even trying to dispose of bullets down the toilet in McDonald's in Blackpole.

It was the courage of an off-duty officer who helped apprehend one of the gang after the car in which he was travelling was hit in the crash. His partner and 16-month-old child had been in the car with him at the time.

Doherty, aged 21, of Oxford Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, was jailed for 14 years - an 11 year prison sentence with an extended licence period of three years.

The defendant, who had no previous convictions and has mild learning difficulties, must serve at least two thirds of the sentence behind bars.

He admitted possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to a handgun and a shotgun, possession of shotgun cartridges with intent to endanger life and three counts of possession of an offensive weapon - a machete, an axe and a knife.

Kyle Ryley, 23, of no fixed abode and the driver of the car faced the same charges as Doherty but also faced additional charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and possession of a lock knife.

He was jailed for 10 years and six months and must serve at least two thirds of that sentence.

Ciaran Irvine, aged 20, also of no fixed abode, was jailed for eight years and nine months possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and having three offensive weapons, a machete, an axe and a knife.

Officers had been stationary in an unmarked black Skoda in Cow Lane, facing the A449. A dark blue Volvo estate passed them at speed, travelling in the direction of Claines.

The Volvo was at one stage being driven at 80mph on the 50mph road, officers activating blue lights near the Claines roundabout indicating they wanted the car to pull over.

Both cars took the first left, heading in the direction of Sixways along the A449. The Volvo eventually pulled over, the unmarked car pulling up just behind before the Volvo reversed into the police Skoda before driving off towards junction 6 at speeds 'in excess of 120mph'.

Other officers headed towards the motorway junction but a stinger could not be deployed due to other traffic and the position of the car being pursued.

Tom Kenning, prosecuting, said: "As the Volvo and the Skoda approached the roundabout PS Baker heard a loud 'crack' sound, which he believed to be the discharge of a high velocity gun. Footage from the in-car camera of the Skoda will show the driver's window of the Volvo was lowered as the vehicle approached the roundabout. It is at this point the prosecution say the gun was fired at the police Skoda containing PC Rimmer and PC Damm."

The Volvo continued through a red light, round the roundabout and back along the A449, heading back towards Blackpole, driving at one stage on the wrong side of the road and narrowly missing a fuel tanker.

Mr Kenning added: "As it approached the junction of Cotswold Way and Cosgrove Close the Volvo again went on the wrong side of the road, struck a central reservation, broke off a rear wheel, and collided with a silver VV Passat being driven by a retired gentleman. John Zorn, and a white VW Tiguan containing Nyla Akthar, her fiancee Kevin Wyatt (an off-duty police officer) and their 16 month old son."

The driver and passengers ran from the car. Ryley, a disqualified driver, was behind the wheel but was chased and caught by PC Rimmer. After his arrest Ryley was heard to say: "Listen mate, I'm from Hinkley, I've been down to Bristol and I'm going to get shot by travellers."

Irvine was chased and caught by off-duty officer Kevin Wyatt.

Mr Kenning added: "A hole in the rear nearside of the Skoda was then discovered by the police officers. The prosecution say this was caused by the shot fired through the driver's side window of the Volvo on the approach to the Sixways roundabout."

The search continued for the third men - Gerard Doherty - who meanwhile had stolen a mobile phone power pack charger from Blackpole before he entered McDonald's on the Blackpole retail park. A customer found two bullets in the bowl of the disabled toilet. Staff and police were alerted. Doherty was arrested nearby, claiming he was there to pick up his girlfriend.

The Volvo contained weapons including a .22 calibre converted rimrifle firearm/pistol in the central console.

A double barrelled shotgun was also found in the rear footwell. Cartridges and ammunition were also found. A machete in its sheath was found in the found in the front passenger footwell. A wooden axe was found in the front passenger seat footwell. A knife, sheathed, was also found in the rear seat footwell.