Man crashed his girlfriend’s car in death-defying chase

A driver crashed his girlfriend’s BMW during a death-defying bid to escape the police – at 70mph above the 40mph speed limit.

Despite being disqualified from driving, 24-year-old Jack Crane thought he was better placed to drive that night because his girlfriend had been drinking, Leicester Crown Court was told.

He also appeared in court to be sentenced for a separate incident of threatening to stab a man when armed with a knife, in front of a three-year-old child, and throwing a hammer at the victim’s car when the child was in the vehicle.

Crane was jailed for two years and banned from driving for three years.

The dangerous driving happened on Saturday, May 18, 2019, when officers saw the BMW travelling at 90mph on the northbound carriage

way of the M1, which turned on to the A46 towards Leicester. Ignoring police signals to stop, Crane, of Northfield Close, Bagworth, turned onto the A50.

Phillip Plant, prosecuting, said: “He made off at speed and tried to drive across the central reservation when doing a U-turn. He then proceeded to drive at 110mph in a 40mph area.

“At a roundabout he lost control and crashed, the car flipping over on

to its roof. The defendant and his female passenger got out, thankfully both unhurt.”

Crane, who has previously been banned from driving four times, admitted dangerous driving, having no insurance and driving when disqualified.

He also admitted threatening a man with a bladed article, in Cooper Road, Markfield, and damaging the victim’s Ford Focus by throwing a hammer, on Thursday, September 6,

2018. Mr Plant said on that occasion the defendant, who was then living in Markfield, lost his temper with a man who was collecting his little girl from his ex-partner’s neighbouring home, in Cooper Road.

The two men ended up exchanging words, culminating in the defendant producing a knife and saying: “I’ll shove this in your neck.”

Crane then got on a motorbike and spat at the man, but dropped his helmet, which the man threw at him.

Mr Plant said: “The defendant got off his bike and produced the knife again, making slashing movements towards him, but no contact was made.”

It was seen by the man’s ex-partner and their three-year-old daughter, who was placed into her father’s Ford Focus.

Crane went indoors and came out with a hammer which he threw at the car’s rear door.

The court heard that Crane had an appalling driving record including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, drug driving and flouting motoring bans.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Spencer QC said: “I know you are sorry, but today must be the day of reckoning.”

In addition to the jail sentence, the judge made a five-year restraining order forbidding Crane from making any contact with the girl or her parents.