The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Crash driver found hiding beneath car
OFFENDER HIT CAR AND WALL DURING POLICE CHASE
A DANGEROUS driver who crashed into a parked car and wall while being chased by police has been spared prison.
Police spotted a black Vauxhall Astra with cloned registration plates being driven by James Edmondson on December 9.
They tried to pull him over but he accelerated away and they lost him.
Around five hours later, in the early hours of the following morning, the car was spotted again in Bensham and Swalwell before passing a police car in Dunston.
The officer activated his blue lights but Edmondson failed to stop, doing close to double the 30mph speed limit.
Another officer then deployed a stinger device but Edmondson continued driving, hitting and damaging a parked Ford Focus.
When he came to a stop and a police car pulled alongside him, he mounted the pavement and hit a wall before making off on foot. He was then found hiding under a parked car and arrested.
Edmondson, 22, of Eastbourne Avenue, Bensham, Gateshead, who has two previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with a fraudulent registration mark, having no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to stop after an accident.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours’ unpaid work and a ninemonth drug rehabilitation requirement.
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: “He asks me to convey his complete and utter remorse for this offending.”
She said he had been referred to a drug agency because of his addiction to cannabis and cocaine and said he had a difficult start to life.