Driver took police on 100mph chase and ended up in a field
A driver took police on a 100mph police chase as he attempted to shake them off before ending up in a field. Benjamin Jones, a banned driver, was behind the wheel of a Land Rover on Tuesday, February 14 this year when he was first spotted by police air support.
The 34-year-old was driving along the A46 from Nottingham to Newark when the National Police Air Service spotted his car and took an interest. Officers on the ground then began to tail Jones who had no insurance and was driving on cloned plates, reports Nottinghamshire Live.[1]
He panicked when he saw police and mounted the pavement to pass vehicles, drove on the wrong side of a traffic island and overtook lines of vehicles as cars approached. He travelled at speeds of up to 100mph as he approached the village of Coddington.
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David Eager, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court on Monday (September 4) Jones did a convoluted series of manoeuvres as he clearly tried to lose the police following him. He went down a track, opened and closed a metal gate, and boldly drove along the side of a field and parked up by some caravans.
“Unfortunately for the defendant the aircraft was circling above him – and knew exactly where he was – and directed officers,” Mr Eager told the court. “The defendant swapped number plates off the vehicle but realised the game was up”.
Jones, of Valley Road, Carlton, pleaded guilty to failing to stop, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, fraud, driving without insurance, without a valid MOT and possessing cannabis. The court heard intrinsic to these offences is his mental health.
A bipolar sufferer, he was not taking his antipsychotic medication at the time. He is now on a more stable footing, and his third child was born four months ago. Recorder David Bedenham sentenced Jones to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and added a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and 18 rehabilitation activity days.
His driving disqualification is for two years and an extended retest is required before he can have his licence back. The judge ordered he stay out of trouble – and Jones told him he would, adding: “I’ve got to that age now.”
References
- ^ Nottinghamshire Live. (www.nottinghampost.com)
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