100mph city centre chase of ‘moment of madness’ driver

BID TO STRIKE AND BITE OFFICERS

DANGEROUS driver sped through Leicester city centre at 100mph in a “moment of madness” caused in part by not being able to work during lockdown, a court heard.

Officers on patrol began pursuing Marcus Marshall after they saw him driving at speed in Burleys Way, in the city centre, then overtaking on the bend of Burleys Flyover.

Marshall, 26, also narrowly missed a pedestrian when heading at 90mph towards the city centre, and went the wrong way round a roundabout, the city’s crown court was told.

“The police were trying to pursue him at 100mph when he went through red lights at a crossing,” Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, said.

Marshall’s VW Passat continued on to St Matthew’s estate, only slowing in Ottawa Road to allow a passenger to flee.

“He reversed, with the door still open and was in a collision with a police car,” the prosecutor said.

“The defendant got out of the passenger side and made off, but was chased and arrested.

“He confirmed his correct details and said he was insured to drive the car, but couldn’t explain why he drove off, other than he was ‘just being stupid.’”

Having refused to give a breath test at the police station, after failing a roadside test, he was taken to a cell and then “seen with a ligature around his neck”.

When two officers were removing it, he tried to strike one and bite the other, but no contact was made and no injuries were caused.

Marshall, of Simmins Crescent, Eyres Monsell, Leicester, admitted dangerous driving, failing to provide a breath specimen and two counts of common assault on emergency workers regarding the struggle in the police cell.

Judge Timothy Spencer QC said: “I’m prepared to accept it was an aberration during a moment of madness.

“You weren’t coping with problems in your life, including your relaA tionship, and were hit hard by the death of your grandmother.

“You were clearly heavily in drink and had no business being in a car.”

He said a preliminary breath test at the scene indicated Marshall was about twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Judge Spencer said: “You went over the Burleys Flyover at speed, through a crossing on red lights, two more sets of red lights and went the wrong way around Humberstone

Roundabout before driving in excess of 100mph in the centre of Leicester.

“I appreciate it was around midnight.

“You went on to an estate and into a no through road and were ultimately stopped because you were rammed, perfectly properly, by a police car.

“You could have killed someone, yourself or even your passenger. You were clearly in a bad state and attempted to assault two officers, but fortunately didn’t make contact.

“They were just doing their job when you were at least giving the appearance of trying to take your own life, by strangling yourself with your own clothing. Things had clearly reached a low ebb.

“You have no previous convictions and were a decent and hardworking man before offending in such a spectacular fashion.

“But there is every prospect you can get back to normal and lead a responsible and sensible life.

“Any judge should stand back, especially during these times [when conditions are difficult in prison during the pandemic] and ask if it’s really necessary to deprive you of your liberty.

“By a fine margin, I find I can just suspend the sentence. But you couldn’t have come closer.

“It’s in the interests of the wider public that you get back to work and your former law-abiding life.”

The defendant politely thanked the judge and said he would never be in court again.

Marshall was given a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. He was banned from driving for one year.