Driver led police on 70mph chase

A DANGEROUS driver crashed his new car on to a roundabout after leading pursuing police officers on a chase at 70mph through a 30mph zone.

Jobless Adam Freeman, 21, jumped into his newly bought and unregistered £600 car and took three friends for a drive.

But when spotted by police, Freeman, of Briar Close, Winlaton, Gateshead, sped off in the silver Vauxhall Astra in a 30mph zone, a court heard.

He even switched off the lights to avoid detection, but soon crashed at Shibdon Road, Blaydon, at 12.32am on March 7.

Magistrates at South Tyneside heard Freeman’s offence was devoid of reason, save for being a reaction to coronavirus lockdown frustration and the ending of a relationship.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “An officer saw a silver Vauxhall Astra being driven by the defendant.

“Checks showed that the vehicle was not registered for insurance. It travelled at high speed on Shibdon Road, towards Blaydon.

“The officer put on his blue lights and siren, but the vehicle failed to stop.

“The defendant drove in excess of 70mph in a 30mph speed-limit area.

“He drove on to the wrong side of the road and turned off his lights but collided with a curb and stopped.”

Ian Cassidy, defending, confessed: “It’s quite inexplicable.

He’s not a man who’s been in any trouble before.

“He says that in lockdown he’s been locked in, and had a relationship breakdown. He says that his head was ‘done in.’

“He bought the car for £600 and says that he took it out for a spin to clear his head. That was mistake number one.

“He just panicked, he took off. He accepts what the officer says.

“He increased his speed over quite a short distance and clipped a roundabout and stopped.

“It’s a guilty plea and he’s a man of good character.”

Freeman pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving without insurance.

Magistrates adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports to the same court on May 11, and granted Freeman unconditional bail.