Driver’s police chase mayhem
A MINDLESS driver who flouted red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road as he took police on a 20-minute chase has been jailed.
Leos Sibanda, also known as Nokaneng, crashed into two cars and forced other vehicles to swerve as he clocked speeds of up to 60mph in a 30 zone on several roads.
Behind the wheel of his girlfriend’s Range Rover Vogue, the 26-year-old refused to stop as he led police on a dangerous pursuit in parts of Cramlington, Seaton Delaval and Holywell.
A court was told he ignored red lights, including at the busy Moor Farm Roundabout, drove on the wrong side of the road, swerved across lanes and forced oncoming traffic to brake as he attempted to evade officers because he was uninsured and carrying cannabis.
The chase only came to a finish when Sibanda turned onto a deadend and fled on foot but was caught and arrested moments later.
As previously reported, Sibanda, of Victoria Mews, Blyth, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at a hearing last month at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court.
However, magistrates deemed their powers were insufficient and sent him to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence.
Jailing him for 11 months, Judge Penny Moreland told him: “When you saw the police wished you to stop and motivated by the not being insured on the car and having possession of cannabis, you decided to avoid the police.
“For the next 20 minutes, you drove in an extremely dangerous fashion. It’s only by good fortune that nobody was extremely badly injured by what you did.”
The court heard Sibanda was driving along the A189 towards the Moor Farm Roundabout at around 10.15am on March 3 when police first tried to get him to pull over.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said, when he didn’t stop, the officer followed and watched as he accelerated and crossed between lanes.
“The defendant drove through a red light and continued on to the roundabout,” Mr Pallister told the court. “The police officer put on his sirens and followed.
“The defendant drove around the roundabout, contravening all the red lights before going around the roundabout again for a second time.
“He squeezed between stationary vehicles on the roundabout and almost collided. He then pulled off on to the B1505 without slowing.”
Driving on the wrong side of the road and of speeds of up to 60mph in some 30 zones, Sibanda roared off.
During the course of the chase, he crashed into a Honda travelling in the opposite direction but still failed to stop, the court heard.
Sibanda, who has a previous conviction for wounding with intent, also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.
Kate Barnes, defending, said he admitted all aspects, except that he jumped out of the Range Rover while it was still moving.
She said: “He was driving a fairly conspicuous vehicle and came to the attention of the police. He knew he had no insurance.”
Sibanda was banned from driving for two years and must pass an extended test.