Danger driver ‘could have killed’ as he fled police with drugs stash
A danger Sunderland driver who fled police at 50mph to stop them finding his newly-bought drugs stash could have killed, a court heard.
Magistrates told Daniel Watson, 31, death would likely have resulted had a parent pushed a pram into residential roads.
They slammed Watson, of Keswick Avenue, Fullwell, for antics committed so officers would not discover his 10 cocaine wraps and diazepam.
Prosecutors revealed he drove onto pavements and cut corners in a friend’s Ford Focus during his escape bid at 4.50pmonSaturday,March26.
At one point he sped towardstwopolicecarsblocking hispathatintervalsbutsteered past them by careering onto pavements.
Itendedwhenhecrashedin Yewtree Avenue, Marley Potts, and was arrested as he tried to scale a fence after fleeing on
foot.
Magistrates in South
Tyneside jailed Watson, who has no previous convictions, for12weeksbutsuspendedthe sentence for 18 months.
Clinton Leeks, chair of the bench,toldhim:“Hadsomeone carriedapramoutbetweenthe roads, they would probably be dead.
“We do view the risk to the public as very serious.”
ProsecutorClareIrvingsaid Watson powered along streets including Elmwood Avenue, Old Mill Road and Everton Lane.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’
Court, she added: “It wasaresidentialareawithchildren. The defendant was driving at 40 or 50mph.
“He drove towards a police vehicle.TheFordFocusmounted the pavement, narrowly missing a police car.
“The police heard over the radio from a motor patrol vehicle that the defendant had crashed. Two males were seen running away. One was held at the scene and the defendant was detained after he tried to scale a residential fence.”
Watson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
He also admitted driving without a licence, failing to stop,possessionofcocaineand possession of diazepam.
Jason Smith, defending, disputed the seriousness of Watson’s driving and claimed it had been exaggerated by police.
Watsonmustalsocomplete 32rehabilitationdaysandcomplete100hoursofunpaidwork. He was banned from driving for two years.