THIS WILL HAUNT ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE
Policeman tells of moment he was thrown to the ground as danger driver tried to flee
A SERIAL dangerous driver took police on a high-speed chase through Newcastle’s west end with his daughter in the car.
Michael Curran travelled at more than twice the limit and swerved onto the wrong side of the road whilst being pursued on the West Road, Brighton Grove and side streets in Fenham and Arthur’s Hill.
Newcastle Crown Court was told the 37-year-old hit speeds of 70mph in built-up areas where the limit is 30mph.
And, when police finally caught up wit him after he temporarily came to a stop, the dad suddenly accelerated as one officer was trying to get into his car, a court heard.
The policeman was thrown to the ground as Curran ploughed his Skoda Octavia into a parked vehicle.
Now, Curran, of Vine Street, Wallsend, has been locked up for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to his sixth dangerous driving offence of his criminal career.
Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said police first began pursuing Curran when they saw his car pull away at speed on the West Road in the early hours of November 25 last year.
Curran, who was on licence from prison at the time, was then seen to drive at 60mph in the built-up area, where 30mph is the limit, when the temperature was freezing and the road surface was wet.
Mr Bunch said: “The defendant was accelerating along the West Road towards the city centre. At one stage, he swerved on to the other side of the carriageway to avoid a vehicle in front, while still driving in the region of 60mph.
“The officers followed the Skoda before it turned sharply on to Brighton Grove at a speed of 70mph.”
The court was told Curran drove down a series of side streets before he came to a stop on Beaconsfield Street, and one of the pursuing officers got out his vehicle and opened the door to Curran’s car. Mr Bunch added: “This defendant, having looked at the officer, then put his vehicle into gear, revved the engine loudly and drove off, forcing the officer to pull himself into the vehicle. However, he failed to do so sufficiently quickly to avoid being thrown forward and from the vehicle as it crashed into a stationary car, activating the air bags.”
After the collision Curran, who was on licence from an 11-year prison sentence imposed in 2011, was detained and arrested.
However, he later failed to provide a specimen of breath or blood when asked at the police station. In a statement read to the court, the police officer who was thrown from Curran’s car described the incident as “truly terrifying”.
He said: “I have a baby and family at home and to think I could have been seriously injured or killed for trying to do my job will not only change the way I work but will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
Barry Robson, defending Curran, who has been recalled to prison on the 11-year sentence imposed in 2011, said he had struggled to adjust to life since being released in January 2017.
He added: “He did this while his daughter was in the car with him and he’s very sorry about that and any problems he cause the officer.”
Jailing Curran, who also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and failing to provide a specimen, Mr Recorder Singh said: “This is so serious, only an immediate custodial sentence is called for. The position the officer was placed in must have been truly horrifying. Your case is further aggravated by your appalling history - five past convictions for dangerous driving.”
Curran was also banned from driving for 36 months and ordered to take an extended retest before he can get his licence back.