Driver banned again after high-speed chase
A dangerous driver who raced away from police at set of traffic lights which led to a highspeed chase has kept his freedom.
Stephen Makepeace was supposedly delivering the vehicletosomebodyelsewhenhe was clocked by officers on the A69 near Newcastle.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that the 65-year-old has alsostillyettopassanextended test following disqualification for a similar offence in 2010.
Rachel Glover, prosecuting, said: "On the 20th March this year officers had been diving along the A69 east bound towardsNewcastlecitycentre.
"Around 10pm their attention was drawn to a vehicle with headlights that appeared to be dimmed.
"They then pulled across centralwhitelines.Thevehicle driven by the defendant overtooktheofficersandcontinued to swerve and that's when the officers activated their lights totrygetthedefendanttostop."
Ms Glover said they both came to a stop at a red light and Makepeace gestured to the officers to overtake him, however, when the lights turned green he continued to drive away which triggered the pursuit.
The court heard that he reached speeds of 50mph in a 30 zone towards the A191, as wellascontraveningaredlight and forcing other vehicles to brake suddenly.
Makepeace was eventually stopped and checks revealed he was disqualified and had no
insurance.
Makepeace, of Pensher View, Sulgrave, Washington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop.
StuartGraham,mitigating, said: "The defendant accepts his behaviour and makes no excuses."
MrRecorderIanMullarkey sentenced Makepeace to ten months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 15 days of rehabilitation requirementsandanight-timecurfew.
He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and has beenbannedfromtheroadsfor a further 12 months.