Danger driving dad ‘put foot down like an idiot and overtook lorry at 80mph’ during A66 police chase
A Middlesbrough dad led police on a high speed chase down Borough Road and onto the A66[1].
Carl Prior was spotted in a black BMW 3-series, which was registered and insured under a woman's name, on May 2, last year. After police saw the 40-year-old do a U-turn on Borough Road, they indicated for him to pull over.
But Teesside Crown Court[2] has heard that the dad-of-two, "accelerated aggressively onto the A66" and cut across traffic from the slip road to the third lane. Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, told the court that Prior, who has never passed a driving test, overtook a lorry at 80mph in a 50mph zone.
Prior "exited the A66 sharply" before driving through red lights at a roundabout and back onto Borough Road. When police arrived at the house of the car's registered keeper, the woman said that she hadn't been out in her car that day and "directed police to Prior".
Mr Sabiston said that after Prior was arrested, he admitted it was him behind the wheel. "He saw the blue lights and put his foot down like an idiot," Mr Sabiston said.
Prior, of West Lane, in Whinney Banks[3], Middlesbrough[4], pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and with no licence. Tabitha Buck, mitigating, told the court that her client is now taking anti-psychotic medication, and that his "thought processes and reckless decision-making were at play" during his offending.
"He has two children," she told the court. "He was sectioned three years ago and he wants to make positive steps to improve his mental health."
Judge Anthony Walker told Prior: "It was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road and it showed deliberate disregard for the safety of others. There is always a risk if a police pursuit takes place.
"You have no driving licence or insurance."
Prior was handed an eight-month prison term, suspended for 18-months. He must attend 35-rehabilitation days and he was disqualified from driving for two-years. He must pass an extended driving test before he is allowed on the road.
After the judge was told that Prior is unemployed and receives personal independence payments for his bad back, a court order to subtract £200 in legal costs from his benefits was made.
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References
- ^ A66 (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Teesside Crown Court (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Whinney Banks (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Middlesbrough (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select 'Join Community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Teesside Live (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ can read our Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ here (www.gazettelive.co.uk)