DANGER DRIVER WOULD ‘STOP AT NOTHING’ TO SHAKE OFF POLICE

Motorist, 22, hit 80mph on country lanes

DANGEROUS driver Andrew Harding hit speeds of 80mph on country lanes as he was chased by police.

Officers eventually called off their pursuit of the 22-year-old because he was going so fast through areas with a 30mph speed limit.

Harding, of Sark Close, in Seabridge, had been driving around the Uttoxeter area with his girlfriend who lived in the town.

Now he has been handed an eightmonth prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a two-year driving ban.

He was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

Police first discovered Harding’s Volkswagen Polo at 10.55pm on June 16.

Carl Templar-vasey, prosecuting, said: “The police decided they should stop the car, and it turned left in Loxley Lane where there is no lighting, then into Bennetts Lane, Bramshall, which is lit. They turned their blue lights on.

“The car was then doing 50mph in a 30mph speed limit, then into Holly Lane, Uttoxeter, reaching speeds of up to 80mph in a 30mph zone.”

The court was told that in New Road, the Polo slowed down but went straight across a junction.

In Ashbourne Road, the Polo driver ignored a give way sign and did 60mph in a 30mph zone.

He then did not stop at the A50 roundabout, before driving on to the B5030 and continuing past ‘road closed’ signs towards Rocester.

Mr Templar-vasey said: “He slowed down and slammed on his brakes with force as if to cause a crash between them.

“The police car avoided collision, but traded paint. One officer said if it wasn’t for the advanced driving of the other officer there could have been a serious collision.

“Due to the manner of his driving, the police decided he would lose control and was not going to stop at any cost. They abandoned the chase.”

Harding was located, and in an interview with police he said he had had some issues with his girlfriend and was advised not to go to Uttoxeter.

The prosecutor added: “He accepted police were behind him. He wanted to stop, but was with his girlfriend and he thought a traffic offence would be better.”

Harding’s defence solicitor told the court: “It is clearly a shocking piece of driving – a lengthy high speed pursuit.

“He is a hardworking young man with a supportive family. He entered a guilty plea and made full admission at the police station.

“He presents a risk to the public, but that risk has been dealt with by way of an interim driving ban.

“The combination of his work ethic and thinking into the future means he is unlikely to trouble the courts again.”

Judge Kristina Montgomery told Harding: “You led police on a protractive and dangerous pursuit in rural and semi-road areas.

“You were prepared to stop at nothing to shake them off, putting yourself at risk, your girlfriend, the lives of the police officers and any other drivers.

“You travelled at excessive speed, failing to give way and risked the lives of other road users. However, I am willing to suspend your sentence due to your remorse, your immaturity, your efforts to repay the debts to your family and the remote possibility of you troubling the courts again.”

The judge added: “Grow up and grow up quickly.”