The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Dangerous driver given chance to stay out of prison
ACTIONS ‘COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY’
A DANGEROUS driver who “could have killed someone” during a police chase on the streets of Newcastle has been given a chance to stay out of jail.
Nathan Amour was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall on February 21 this year when it came to the attention of police.
Newcastle Crown Court heard information flashed up on the police car’s computer system and that there was a “suspicion it was being used as some kind of pool car”.
Amour drove on the Central Motorway and at one point mounted a path and drove down a grassed embankment.
Stuart Graham, prosecuting, said: “Due to the dangerous manoeuvre police put on the blues and twos and the car continued to drive off, failing to stop.
“He turned right onto Richardson Road, braking to avoid a collision with an approaching car and he drove over traffic calming bumps at speed.”
Amour then got out and ran off while the car was still moving and it struck another vehicle.
He was chased and ended up running into the path of an officer, who grabbed and handcuffed him.
After he was arrested, he was found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis and amphetamine and appeared under the influence of drugs, the court heard.
Amour, 26, of Hexham Avenue, Hebburn, South Tyneside, who has a previous conviction for dangerous driving, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance, failing to stop, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and possessing cannabis and amphetamine.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for 18 months.
He was also made subject to a drug rehabilitation requirement for nine months and a mental health treatment requirement.
Recorder Tony Hawks told him: “You are an unusual young man who seems to have gone off the rails when your father tragically died.
“You started taking drugs and you’ve got mental health issues. None of those things, tragic though they are for you, are any consolation to people. You could have killed someone, killed yourself and you’ve done it before.”
He added, in reference to the suspended sentence: “Either you are going to take this opportunity or you are not.
“I’m going to reserve any breaches of this order to myself so if I see you again I’m likely to be sending you to prison.”