Mum and tot leapt from path of danger driver
ACHEADLE Hulme man was spared jail after a court heard he mounted the pavement in a speeding Audi, causing a mother and her 11-month old son to jump out of the way, as he tried to escape police.
Anthony Rose, 30, of Sandringham Road, was told that the consequences of his ‘appalling’ driving, described as ‘acts of madness,’ could have been ‘catastrophic’ by the court judge.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Rose was spotted by police at a junction, when he swerved out of a right hand turn only lane to instead turn left.
Officers were carrying out a check about the car on the police national computer, after they remembered it from an earlier incident when the black Audi had failed to stop.
Police began to chase Rose in the Audi, which was later found to be stolen, although Rose was not involved in that theft.
During the pursuit through Wythenshawe, which lasted for just under a mile, Rose reached speeds of 60mph in a 20mph zone, went through three red lights and crossed the path of an oncoming tram.
At one point he mounted the pavement, where a woman was walking home with her 11-month-old son at about 12.45pm on September 12, near Wythenshawe Park Metrolink station.
Rose missed them by ‘centimetres’ after they jumped out of the way, prosecutor Gemma Maxwell said.
They had heard the ‘screech’ of tyres, and the woman said that as Rose passed them ‘he had the cheek’ to say ‘I’m sorry.’
Another mum with her one-year-old child was nearby and saw what happened.
The chase ended when Rose crashed into a garden wall. He tried to run off but was caught.
In interview, Rose, who has previous convictions for drink-driving and driving while disqualified, was said to be remorseful and admitted he knew the car was stolen, revealing he had bought it for £500.
Defending, Adrian Palmer, said Rose has issues with drink and cannabis, and he is a father of three young children with another child due in March.
“He is most remorseful for what he has done,” the barrister said.
Rose pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a licence and aggravated vehicle taking.
Sentencing, Judge David Stockdale QC imposed a 12 month prison term suspended for 24 months and ordered Rose to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was banned from driving for three years.
Judge Stockdale said: “These driving offences amount to acts of madness on your part.
“You have family responsibilities, another child on the way, you are in full time employment, and you were in possession of and drove a stolen car.
“On September 12 you drove very, very dangerously on residential roads in Wythenshawe. The consequences of that could have been catastrophic.
“This was an appalling piece of driving triggered only by your attempt to evade apprehension by the police.”