Kentish Express Ashford & District
Drug-driver leads police on chase before crashing
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An Ashford teenager led police on a high-speed chase down a residential road before smashing into an elderly couple’s car.
Ji Lawrence, 18, admitted dangerous driving, drug driving, failing to stop for police and driving with no insurance or a valid licence when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday.
Lawrence was arrested after a head-on crash in Kennington at 5.44pm on Saturday, August 13, last year, where he narrowly missed a mum and her two young children and injured two pensioners in the car his hit.
The then- 17- year- old had jumped in his car with his mates, had cannabis in his system and had not yet even passed his test.
Keith Betts, defending, said the unemployed teen of Dudley Road, Kennington had bought a silver MG ZR with his birthday money, which was parked off the road because he had no insurance or a valid licence.
He said: “He had no intention of driving that vehicle. However overcome by temptation he very stupidly got into the car and decided to go for a drive.”
Mr Betts said Lawrence panicked when he heard police sirens and sped off.
Prosecuting, Rio Pahlavanpour, said: “There was a fiveminute pursuit of various speeds. At one point the police car was travelling at speeds of 45mph in a 30mph zone with some pedestrians around.”
CCTV footage of the crash was played in court, which showed Lawrence failing to stop at the T-junction of Nettlefield and Faversham Road before smashing into the side a BMW, injuring Mr and Mrs Reed.
Fire crews were called and used hydraulic cutting equipment to free a woman from one vehicle and two men in the MG. Folkestone Magistrates’ Court
Mr Pahlavanpour said tests showed Lawrence had 3.3 microgrammes of cannabis in his system – the limit is one microgramme.
Reading Mr Reed’s victim impact statement Mr Pahlavan- pour said: “He had to go to the hospital as a result of the incident and he suffered pains as a result of the crash.
“He was prescribed sleeping tablets and an old knee injury has also been exacerbated.
“He even had to cancel a family holiday with his wife.”
Mr Betts agreed the incident was serious but said Lawrence had full remorse for his actions.
He said: “He wishes to apologise as much as he can for what happened to the injured couple and the ongoing effect it has had on them.
“He says that this really has been a huge wake-up call for him. He is aware he could have injured himself, his passengers and caused more injuries to the other couple. It’s made him sit up and look at his behaviour.”
Lawrence admitted all charges and will be sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates court on Wednesday, March 8, after a full report from probation.
‘He wishes to apologise as much as he can’