Speeding motorist jailed for six months

A danger driver who travelled at twice the speed limit in a bid to get away from the police has been jailed.

Cameron Healer, who was alreadybannedfromthe roads, refused to stop the Renault Clio he was driving when police activated blue lights and sirens in a bid to pull him over in Sunderland at round midnight on May 11.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 20-year-old, who had "several male passengers" in the vehicle, sped off at 40mph in a 20 zone and onto Hylton Road and Springwell Road then the A690.

Prosecutor Penny Hall told the court Healer went through a red light and straddled both lanes on a single carriageway on the Queen Alexandra Road then went the wrong way around a roundabout.

The court heard he travelled at 60mph in a 30 zone, with three police vehicles in pursuit before he braked suddenly and pulled over.

His passengers ran off from the scene but Healer was detained and arrested.

The court heard at the time of the offences Healer was on post-licence supervision from a previous prison sentence for unrelated offending.

Healer, of Thistle Road, Sunderland, who has previous convictions for driving offences, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to six months behind bars with a 15-month road ban.

The judge told him: "This was an appalling piece of driving, with disregard for safety.

"There was a high risk to yourself, your passengers, the police and other road users."

Nick Peacock, defending, said Healer is "incredibly remorseful now", has a job offer and is due to become a dad.