Banned driver who fled police at 110mph is spared prison
WOMAN WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT BY ‘STINGER‘
A WOMAN who reached speeds of 110mph while leading police on a chase from Derby to Nottingham and back has walked free from court.
Katie Blackham, of Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, was pursued by police for more than 20 minutes after they tried to pull her over.
The 32-year-old only came to a stop after officers deployed a stinger trap and she drove down a dead-end on February 22, last year.
She was later charged with drugs offences after police linked the property where she lived to the distribution of class A drugs.
At her sentencing hearing yesterday, Derby Crown Court heard Blackham was suspended from driving at the time of the incident.
Andy Peet, prosecuting, said: “She drove from Chaddesden to Nottingham and back on the A52 at very high speed, on one occasion reaching 110 mph. She drove particularly badly in 30mph speed limits, fishtailing around roundabouts.
“She was eventually arrested because she drove into a dead end. She was unco-operative on arrest and refused a drug test.”
He said Blackham admitted to police what she had done and had said she had panicked.
He said: “In her last words to the police she said she knew she had been an idiot.”
She was later charged with dangerous driving, failure to cooperate with a drugs test, driving while banned and without insurance.
While she was on bail for these offences police linked her property to the distribution of cocaine and arrested her again.
Mr Peet said drug dealers had “taken over her property in a cuckooing type” situation.
He said: “She had very little say in the matter, they moved in and used it as a dealing hub. She was, at the time, dependent on drugs. In return for her tacit assistance, she was given drugs. This was in no great amount, only what she required to sustain her dependency. She was interviewed and made full admissions.”
In court Blackham admitted the driving offences and permitting a premises to be used for supplying a Class A drug. She pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A drug and the prosecution offered no evidence for this charge.
In mitigation, it was claimed Blackham had since begun drug rehabilitation, had engaged with probation services and had gone drug-free.
She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and disqualified from driving for 18 months with an extended re-test requirement.
She was also given 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement to be reviewed every two months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149.
Judge Robert Egbuna told Blackham that if she failed to comply with any of the orders imposed she would be brought back before the court.
He said: “It’s a difficult addiction to get over. She, in my view, requires help. I would like to have reviews of her and I’m sure she will comply.
“If we have the incentive of bringing her back, that I think also gives her that ... determination [to comply with her rehabilitation].
He told Blackham: “That driving was extremely bad and you did it while you were disqualified. Because of your record and the type of driving that took place, you will be disqualified for 18 months and the mandatory retest will be required.
“I know you’ve been doing very well. It is important you do not get in a vehicle again because if you do you will be back in front of me.”