Stoke-on-Trent man drove wrong way down motorway and led …
A Stoke-on-Trent man who drove the wrong way down a motorway "risked killing people", a court has heard. Thomas Mayer, of Minster Street, in Burslem, was spotted driving a Honda Civic near the Knowsley Expressway, in Merseyside, on New Year's Day.
During the early hours of the morning, police tried to stop the car which then "made off".
Mayer, who appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to three offences including dangerous driving, using a motor vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.
Mr Derek Jones, prosecuting, said a call was made for police colleagues to look for the vehicle during the early hours of that morning, which was then spotted just minutes later.
READ:Couple on £3k TUI 'holiday from hell' offered counselling and £200 after 'seeing dead body'[1]
Officers were driving southbound on the M57 when Mr Jones said they saw Mayer "driving the wrong way towards the officer."
Despite not driving at a high speed, the police vehicle was forced to pull into the inside lane before managing to turn around at the next junction. Mr Jones said: "Throughout, it was wet and raining, fortunately due to the time and date the roads were relatively quiet."
The court heard how Mayer's car was seen again over an hour later near the Knowsley Expressway by police officers before a 12-minute pursuit began. Mr Jones said Mayer was driving at "speeds in excess of 100mph" and ran through red lights "albeit not at high speeds".
At one point, the car crashed into the central reservation, causing part of the bumper to hang off, but he still "drove off", reports the Liverpool Echo.[2]
The court heard how when he drove down a one way road, officers tried "hemming him in", but Mayer "pushed the police vehicle away and drove off again".
Mr Jones said the vehicle was spotted again an hour and half later parked up in the Runcorn area and Mayer was found "decamped in bushes nearby". When arrested, he tested below the legal limit for alcohol and admitted to having no insurance and no licence.
Mr Jones said the 21-year-old was driving with two other passengers in the car, and despite no previous convictions, he does have "totting up offences" and was disqualified previously.
Defence Counsel Rebecca Smith said Mayer "realises the serious predicament he finds himself in" as she said it was "appalling driving". She added: "He drove in what can only be described as a despicable manner."
The court heard how Mayer, who was crying in the dock, was "influenced by what was being discussed in the vehicle" as Ms Smith said it was "blind panic and a sheer moment of madness". However, Judge Recorder Harris said it was "persistent".
Addressing Mayer, Recorder Harris said: "It was appalling, it was dangerous. You risked killing people."
He added Mayer was "not a competent driver" as he said: "You had no regard whatsoever to other road users. It was chilling."
Recorder Harris said the offences were so serious only a custodial sentence could be imposed. He ordered Mayer to serve eight months in prison, of which he will serve half and then be on supervision for 12 months.
Mayer was also disqualified from driving for seven years and four months and must complete an extended retest.
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References
- ^ Couple on £3k TUI 'holiday from hell' offered counselling and £200 after 'seeing dead body' (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool Echo. (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Want more court and crime news? Sign up to our court and crime newsletter here (data.reachplc.com)