A MOTORIST who crashed while doing almost twice the speed limit during a late night West Cumbria police pursuit has been spared immediate prison.
Daniel Jordan Ogilvie, 23, was left critically injured in a dramatic smash on residential Poole Road in Salterbeck, Workington, just after midnight on August 31 last year.
Ogilvie had attracted the attention of police after an erratic move at a mini-roundabout in a Mini registered to a female. He sped away from a trained response driver with lights and sirens activated, and was travelling at 57mph when he slammed into a stationary horse box and was catapulted into other vehicles.
Ogilvie was found unconscious and bleeding, had suffered serious damage to his liver, lung, spleen and kidney, and was placed into a coma by doctors suspecting a brain bleed. He received repeated rounds of electric shock treatment and was later transfused with 12 pints of blood – more than the eight to 10 pints that the body has – due to persistent bleeding.
He appeared over a Skype link at Carlisle Crown Court to be sentenced today (WED) having previously admitted dangerous driving and having two defective tyres. Supportive references attested to Ogilvie’s otherwise good character, and his hard-working and courteous nature.
Judge Nicholas Barker suspended an eight-month jail term for 18 months. Ogilvie, of Wordsworth View, Salterbeck, must complete 140 hours’ unpaid work, a two-month night-time curfew and an attendance centre requirement. He was banned from driving for 24 months and must pass an extended re-test.
“It is a serious act of dangerous driving,” said Judge Barker.