Jailed ‘Drugged-up’ driver jumped red lights and drove up to 60mph

A“DRUGGED-UP” window cleaner led police on a 14-minute dangerous drive over six miles through Bristol.

And a judge decided his poor driving record and moderate prospect of rehabilitation merited jail.

Colt Valentine came to police’s attention after they spotted he was driving at night without lights, Bristol Crown Court heard.

When they tried to pull him over he sped off, breaking speed limits, jumping red lights and going the wrong way around a roundabout.

Valentine, 30, of Fairview Road, Kingswood, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving without a proper licence and insurance and two charges of drug driving.

Colt Valentine

Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 12 months.

He told Valentine: “You were drugged up. You then sought to evade police because you were the driver of a drug runner aged 16 who had a large number of wraps of drugs.”

Valentine was banned from driving for three years. He was told to take an extended driving test.

Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said police spotted Valentine driving without lights on in Kennedy Way, Yate, at 9.50pm in July last year. When they tried to pull him over he sped off at 55mph through a 30mph limit and so began a six-mile drive in which he jumped several red lights, did not take care at junctions, narrowly avoided other vehicles and tore down Downend High Street at 60mph.

After mounting a pavement to avoid a police stinger device he took a roundabout the wrong way and jumped another red light before his front nearside tyre disintegrated and sparks flew from his wheel. He stopped his car, got out and fell over, and police noted he had glazed eyes before he failed a test for drug driving.

The court heard he had 18 court appearances for 36 previous offences. These included a “litany” of bad driving and frequent failure to comply with court orders.

James Haskell, defending, said at the time his client was a significant user of Class A drugs. He said drug, as well as alcohol use and associates, could be attributed to his previous offending.

Mr Haskell told the court, though, that there had been a significant lull in Valentine’s offending. As well as getting a job he had secured his own accommodation and he had also attended Cocaine Anonymous and was no longer using Class A drugs. Mr Haskell urged for either a thinking skills course or a suspended sentence.