MEN JAILED FOR MACHETE ATTACK

Thankfully nobody was hurt but the situation could have been so much worse

A driver who led police on a high speed car chase through Peterborough was brought to justice after he crashed into a lamppost. Dean O’Dare, of Bath Road, in Eye, Peterborough, reached speeds of up to 70mph and forced other drivers out of his path during the pursuit on November 16 last year. Last week, he was jailed for 10 months after admitting dangerous driving at a hearing at Peterborough Crown Court. The court heard the 44-year-old was driving his VW Golf late that night on London Road, Peterborough, when he caught the attention of two officers in a marked police car. When officers turned round to follow O’Dare he accelerated away and a pursuit began which lasted about 15 minutes. During this time, the officers watched O’Dare driving dangerously. This included driving through numerous red lights, on the wrong side of ‘keep left’ arrows and on the wrong side of the carriageway at speeds of up to 70mph. Still driving on the wrong side of the road, O’Dare was also seen to take a righthand blind bend and also the blind crest of a bridge. As well as this, he overtook vehicles on the wrong side of the road and forced other drivers off single carriageway roads to get past. A short while later O’Dare brought his car to a sudden stop, slightly hitting a lamppost. Three people ran from the vehicle, including O’Dare, who fled the VW Golf from the driver’s seat. In police interview, O’Dare told officers he made off from police because he was scared of being caught driving whilst disqualified. Along with the jail term, he was banned from driving for three years and five months. PC Daz Wiltcher said: “O’Dare’s driving during the pursuit was reckless and he had absolutely no consideration for other road users as he drove dangerously. “Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but the situation could have been so much worse. “We take driving offences very seriously and reckless behaviour will not be tolerated.”