A CARLISLE man spared prison for dangerous driving has now been locked up for committing another crime just days after his sentencing hearing.
Luke Robert Colin Whitfield, 21, was handed a “last chance” in November by a judge who spoke of him “driving like a maniac” during a Carlisle police chase. Whitfield hit a top speed of 73mph in a 30mph zone during a pursuit lasting several miles and, in the opinion of one officer, “could have caused a fatality”.
On November 9, Whitfield was handed a suspended custodial sentence, banned from driving and ordered to undergo rehabilitation.
But eight days later he got in further trouble on Carlisle’s Botchergate while drunk, verbally abusing one PC while adopting “potentially a fighting stance”, and twice trying to head-butt another. After admitting the assault by beating of an emergency worker, Whitfield, of Wigton Road, Carlisle, found himself back at the city’s crown court today (TUES).
Judge Andrew Jefferies QC activated 26 weeks of the original eight-month prison term, and added a further week, consecutively, for the latest offence.
“I would have expected a person, on receiving a suspended sentence, to be walking around carefully, avoiding trouble and walking on eggshells – and you didn’t,” Judge Jefferies said while passing sentence.
“I am disappointed you are back, and you have messed up.”
