Driver hit 90mph in 30 zone due to ‘in-built fear of police’
DAD SPARED JAIL FOR ‘PERSISTENT DISPLAY OF BAD DRIVING’
A FATHER who sped away from cops at 90mph in a 30mph zone has an ‘inbuilt fear of police,’ a court heard.
An officer in an unmarked police car watched as Marvin Bennett, 42, under and overtook cars on Alan Turing Way near the Etihad Stadium in east Manchester, reaching speeds of about 50mph in a 30mph zone in his grey BMW 1 Series.
This caught the attention of the officer, who activated his sirens and lights.
Bennett, who had a full licence and was insured for the car, which was registered to his home, initially appeared to respond to the officer.
He pulled over and looked to be stopping, but Bennett, who works for Asda, performed a U-turn and sped off.
Other cars had to take evasive action to avoid the BMW.
During the pursuit, which ran for about a mile-and-a-half and lasted for three minutes, Bennett went through two sets of red lights and other vehicles had to get out of his way to avoid a collision. Bennett reached a maximum speed of 90mph, three times higher than the 30mph limit, prosecutor Maria Brennan said.
He was only stopped when another police car was able to box him in, leaving Bennett with nowhere to go.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Bennett has a previous conviction for dangerous driving from 2005, when he was also sentenced for drink-driving.
Mark Friend, defending, said it was ‘inexplicable’ for Bennett to drive the way he did, given that he was not in breach of any court orders, and wasn’t drink-driving.
In a statement submitted to the court, Bennett’s mother said that her son has an ‘in-built fear of the police,’ stemming from an incident when he was a child.
“It is an unusual background,” Mr Friend said.
“It appears as a matter of fact there was something involving her family.”
He said Bennett is otherwise a hardworking, socially-responsible man who has worked for Asda for 20 years.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Leeming told Bennett: “This was a persistent display of bad driving.
“You placed yourself, the public and the pursuing police at risk.”
The judge handed Bennett a 12-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, after ruling that jailing him would have a harmful effect on others, and that he has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Bennett, of Barkway Road, Stretford, must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
You placed yourself, the public and the pursuing police at risk
Judge Michael Leeming