Learner driver jumped out of moving car after 70mph police chase

A learner driver who jumped out of his moving car after fleeing from police with two deflated tyres has avoided jail. New dad Cameron McCarthy led police on a 10-minute chase in the Black Country[1], racing at speeds of up to 70mph. The 28-year-old zoomed over speed bumps, ran red lights and drove the wrong way around a roundabout during the late-night pursuit in Wolverhampton[2].

A helicopter even scrambled to the scene in a bid to track him down after he turned off the lights of his Renault Clio and drove in darkness. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how McCarthy bought the car for GBP550 last September. But he did not purchase insurance and the vehicle was showing as having no registered keeper, prosecutor Gary Cook said.

Police spotted McCarthy driving in Linthouse Lane, Wednesfield[4], at 11.06pm on September 13. There were no L’ plates on the car and McCarthy was not being supervised even though he was a provisional licence holder. His now ex-girlfriend was seen in the back seat when police travelling in the opposite direction decided to turn around.

They indicated for McCarthy to pull over but he ‘accelerated’, reaching speeds of 50mph in a 30mph zone. The defendant then drove at 40mph when the speed limit was 20mph and zoomed over speed bumps at 30mph. He slowed down as he approached a red light but then drove through it.

McCarthy – of Market Lane, Wolverhampton – went on to cross solid white lines indicating he should stay in his lane near a humpback bridge. The convict also drove over mini roundabouts, overtook cars at 50mph in a residential street, ignored ‘give way’ signs and reached speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone. A fellow driver was forced to brake sharply when the defendant overtook their vehicle at a point where the road narrowed, the court heard.

The convicted thief turned the car’s lights off while driving at 60mph, which made it ‘difficult’ for other road users to see him. Police deployed a stinger, which deflated two of the tyres, but McCarthy continued to flout the speed limits. He then struggled to control his vehicle, with oncoming traffic forced to brake just to avoid a collision.

McCarthy’s dangerous driving continued, with him travelling the wrong way around a roundabout before turning into a dead end.

He fled from the car while it was ‘still in motion’ and climbed a 6ft fence but a police helicopter managed to track him down and he was arrested. The court heard McCarthy had 19 convictions for 37 offences between 2010 and 2022, with the majority of his crimes related to dishonesty, theft and robbery. Jonathan Veasey-Pugh, defending, said McCarthy made off when he should have pulled over.

The pursuit lasted just over 10 minutes, traffic was ‘mercifully low’ and there were no collisions. Mr Veasey-Pugh added: “This was, it seems, a moment of madness, albeit a relatively short police chase. It was rash.”

McCarthy wants to live with his mum after he leaves jail and is hoping to get a construction job working on HS2, the court was told. Sentencing[5], District Judge Ian Strongman said McCarthy was responsible for a ‘period of prolonged bad driving in a built-up area’. McCarthy admitted dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence. He was handed a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a 20-day thinking skills programme requirement.

The defendant was also handed a three-year driving ban on March 28.

References

1. ^ Black Country (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Wolverhampton (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ Council worker pocketed GBP20k of taxpayers’ money to fund gambling addiction (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ Wednesfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Sentencing (www.birminghammail.co.uk)