110MPH TO ESCAPE POLICE
A dangerous driver who sped the wrong way down a dual carriageway in an attempt to escape a dramatic pursuit has been jailed.
Uninsured Scott Wilson caught the attention of police when driving past an onduty officer whilst driving a car that he had taken without the owner’s consent.
The 28-year-old then “panicked” and took off at speed from New Herrington, Sunderland, down the A690 on the wrong side of the dual carriageway – where he narrowly missed smashing into a second police car which was travelling in the opposite direction.
A chase then ensued and Wilson took a turn through Houghton towards Durham – reaching speeds of 110mph in 50mph zones – on April 4 last year.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the police cars stopped pursuing him as it was “too dangerous” and a police helicopter then watched Wilson return to an address in The Broadway, in Sunderland, where he was arrested.
Prosecutor Rachel Masters told the court: “Officers were aware that the Mitsubishi Lancer passed them.
“The officer turned his vehicle around and the Mitsubishi made off at high speed on the A690.
“It drove at high speed on the wrong side of the road.
“The defendant was driving at speeds of 70mph as he left New Herrington.
“He drove down the wrong carriageway of the A690. The police officer decided to abort this as the manner of driving was to dangerous.”
Wilson, of Palmerston Road, Pennywell, admitted charges of dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.
The defendant, who has previous convictions for offences including dangerous driving and criminal damage, was on bail when he committed these offences.
Vic Laffey, defending, told the court how his client suffers from Aspergers Syndrom.
He said: “He was in a relationship with a lady and that relationship lasted between 15 and 17 years.
“That relationship broke down in January this year and as a result he, in his own words, went into a dramatically downward spiral.
“Everything went completely off the rails. He stopped taking his medication.
“He makes no excuse because he knows he acted in a deplorable fashion.”
Jailing him for 15 months, Recorder Andrew Dallas said: “The danger to yourself and other people was immense.”
Wilson has also been disqualified from driving for two years after his release.
“The danger to you and other people was immense” RECORDER DALLAS