Drink and drug-fuelled son of Derby murder victim led police on high-speed A52 chase
The son of a murder victim led police on a terrifying high-speed chase from Nottingham to Derby while high on drink and drugs. Dashcam footage of the near 15-minute pursuit saw Deon Samra reach 115mph on the A52 near Borrowash.[1]
The heavily-convicted 21-year-old father jumped a number of red lights and lost control on the right-hand bend into Derby on Brian Clough Way at Spondon,[2] which he took speeding at almost 100mph. The defendant, of Sinfin and who had two passengers in the Mini with him, managed to regain control and careered round the city’s ring road before crashing into a roundabout in Osmaston Park Road.
Jailing him for nine months, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said:[3] “It is undoubtedly the case that for a significant period of time you drove extremely dangerously. There can be no doubt this was a case where you made a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.
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“You have an unenviable record and I accept the impact your father’s death will have had on you as you grew up.” Samra’s father, Lee Samra, when he was stabbed to death by Royston Whittle in Chalkley Close, Alvaston,[5] in October, 2010.
The 34-year-old, of Sinfin,[6] jumped from a first floor window and managed to get into the road and call for help but died soon after having suffered a knife wound to the heart. In 2011, Whittle, then 38 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to murder at Nottingham Crown Court and was told he must serve a minimum of 18 years.
Matt Hayes, prosecuting this week at the same court, played CCTV of the pursuit, which began at 4.15am on November 11, 2023. It showed Deon Samra sitting in the driver’s seat at a red light by the Queen’s Medical Centre and then speeding towards Derby on the A52 being chased by a police car with its blue lights illuminated and siren sounding.
On the clip the Mini, bought for £300 the prosecutor said, can be seen to reach speeds of 91mph heading towards Priory Island; 85mph by the Nurseryman pub; 89 as it approaches Bardill’s roundabout in a closed lane; and then overtake a lorry on Brian Clough Way at 107mph.
After losing and then regaining control at Spondon, Samra then drove at 87mph on Raynesway, 80mph in Harvey Road and approached Spider Island doing 91 mph. The defendant then crashes into the roundabout near Sainsburys in Osmaston Park Road and is spotted climbing into a back passenger seat while another passenger flees the scene on foot.
Mr Hayes said: “He failed a roadside and then evidential drink-drive test and also tested over the limit for both cocaine and cannabis.” Samra of Sinfin Avenue, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink-driving, drug-driving and driving with no insurance.
He has 14 previous court appearances for 32 offences. Vithyah Chelvam, mitigating, said her client had endured a difficult childhood and upbringing following the murder of his father.
She said: “He does not seek to blame anyone else and completely accepts this was an incredibly stupid thing to do.” As well as the jail sentence, the judge disqualified the defendant from driving for two years and four months.
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References
- ^ Borrowash. (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Brian Clough Way at Spondon, (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Judge Nirmal Shant KC said: (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Chalkley Close, Alvaston, (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ of Sinfin, (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)