Sittingbourne golf course worker arrested for drink-driving after police chase on M20 near Hythe
A golf course greenkeeper drank a bottle of wine before leading police on a high-speed chase that saw him weaving in and out of motorway traffic and racing through villages.
A court heard officers were “amazed” Jake Bonds didn’t flip his car when he drove up a grass bank at around 40mph in a bid to get away from police when he hit some traffic in Dymchurch[1].
Jake Bonds sped off from police after they spotted him weaving between lanes on the M20
Magistrates heard the 23-year-old, of Vectis Drive in Sittingbourne[2], “wasn’t sober enough to stop”, but had not got behind the wheel since the incident.
Bonds came to the attention of officers on patrol on the M20 when they spotted him driving at speed, weaving in between lanes near junction 11a before getting close to a lorry.
They followed his black Renault Clio until he got off at junction 11 for Hythe[3], where they decided to stop his vehicle. But when they activated their sirens and blue lights at the roundabout near Sandling, he failed to stop and drove off at speed.
Bonds, who works at a golf course, was later found to be almost three times the legal limit.
He proceeded to drive dangerously along the A20 Ashford Road, at Newingreen and drove at high speeds through villages and round sharp bends on roads including Stone Street, Lympne, and then on to the A259 Dymchurch Road.
Jake Bonds admitted three driving offences and possession of cannabis when he appeared in the dock
There, to avoid traffic, Bonds drove up a steep grass bank at around 40mph to get around stationary cars, to the astonishment of the officers following him.
After carrying out the dangerous manoeuvre, he carried on driving dangerously along the A259 Hythe Road, before dropping his speed and eventually coming to a stop at The Green in the village of Burmarsh.
Bonds was arrested and a search of his car found a rugby ball-shaped pencil case on the front passenger seat which contained 2.47 grams of cannabis.
He made no comment during a police interview, but later admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, possession of cannabis, and drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Folkestone on January 11.
When given a breath test, he gave a reading of 94 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Jake Bonds was found with 2.47grams of cannabis. Stock picture Doug Menuez/Getty Images
Richard Lamb, prosecuting, said: “At Sandling, he drove off at speed and failed to stop and then he drove at speeds through villages and on bends on small roads and at one point drove up a steep grass bank at about 40mph damaging the car and officers were amazed it didn’t flip over.
“He has no previous convictions and he made no comment in interview, but he was driving at significant speeds in residential areas.”
Scott Neilson, defending, said Bonds had drunk a bottle of wine on the day of the incident, last June, but had not driven since.
He added: “He’s a greenkeeper and earns £1,700 a month.
“He is fearful he will lose his liberty and his job and lives with his father who is now using the car and taking him to work.
“He’d been through a rough patch and was drinking too much. He went to a restaurant and had a meal and a bottle of wine and was thinking of going to see his gran.
Jake Bonds was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court. Stock image
“This has made him realise he has a drink problem. He had buried his head in the sand, he had problems and counselling over his parents’ divorce and he went to an AA meeting, but decided it wasn’t for him. He doesn’t drink every day, but when he drinks, he drinks to excess.
“He saw the blue lights and panicked and sped away. He wasn’t sober enough to stop. There was no damage to the car at all, but there could have easily been going up the bank.
“He saw sense and stopped and is no longer smoking cannabis and is now in much better control of his life and he accepts the manner of driving was dangerous.”
Magistrates jailed Bonds for six months but suspended the term for two years. He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete 120 rehabilitation sessions with probation.
He will be disqualified from driving for 28 months and must take an extended test to get back on the road when the ban is over.
Bonds was also fined £261 for the possession of cannabis, £261 for failing to stop and £392 for the drink-driving offence.