TEEN SPARED PRISON AFTER TAKING POLICE ON 10 MINUTE PURSUIT
Car was full of passengers
A SPEEDING teenage driver jumped a red light as he tore around built up areas while trying to give police the slip.
Student plumber Hasan Dawood – who had a number of passengers – accelerated away when officers attempted to pull him in over in Shelton.
During a 10 minute chase, the defendant:
■ Drove through a red light;
■ Went the wrong way down a one-way street;
■ Contravened a Give Way sign;
■ Narrowly missed another car causing it to take evasive action.
But he then drove down a dead end and was arrested.
Now Dawood, aged 19, has been handed an 18-month community order and hit with a 15-month driving ban at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Christopher Pembridge said police in an unmarked car saw a vehicle being driven erratically in Shelton at 9.45pm on August 26.
Mr Pembridge said: “The car, driven by the defendant, contained a number of occupants. The vehicle probably became aware of the police presence behind as the defendant began to accelerate away.
“The police activated their lights and a pursuit took place.
“The vehicle approached a junction without slowing. It turned left causing another vehicle to brake sharply in order to avoid a collision.
“He continued to a crossroads at Etruria Vale Road. The lights were on red. He went through the red lights without stopping. He
went down a one way street to a dead end. The car stopped and several men jumped out. But the driver was stuck inside. He was detained.
“He was arrested at 9.55pm. The pursuit lasted 10 minutes.”
Dawood, of Dundee Road, Etruria, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
Tariq Mahmood, mitigating, said the defendant was aged 18 at the time and is remorseful for his behaviour.
Mr Mahmood said: “He fully recognises the implications of his erratic driving.
“He is now not able to drive. It has major implications on his daily life. He was taking his father to regular hospital appointments and he now has to get a taxi. He understands what he did was wrong.”
As part of the community order the defendant must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days and a four month electronicallymonitored curfew from 10pm to 5am.
Judge Paul Glenn told Dawood: “You are of previous good character and that is important. You passed your driving test in February 2020. Prior to this incident you had no endorsements.
“There is no sensible reason for what you did. This was your own car, you were licensed to drive it, you were insured to drive it.
“The personal mitigation is such I think custody can be avoided.”
Dawood must take an extended re-test before he can drive again.
He was ordered to pay £425 costs.