A Carlisle danger driver who overtook rush hour traffic on the wrong side of a city road and almost collided head-on with a van has been jailed by a judge.
Two police officers were in a marked vehicle travelling from Nelson Bridge towards Denton Street at 5-50pm on September 1 when they saw a silver Citroen C2 heading towards them. It was being driven “at speed”, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told Carlisle Crown Court today, and overtaking another vehicle on the wrong side of the road in a 30mph area.
One PC immediately recognised Light as the driver, wrote down the number plate and blue lights were activated.
But Light didn’t stop and overtook a long queue of traffic, also on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a van. After moving briefly into a stationary line of traffic, he pulled out again in front of oncoming traffic before going through a red light on to James Street with police losing sight of him.
One motorist’s dash cam captured the incident, Mr Rogerson saying there was an “audible gasp” from inside that vehicle with someone heard saying “what’s he doing?” and “where’s he going?”.
Light was later found at his home but gave no comment responses when questioned. He admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
Jeff Smith, defending, asked for Judge Nicholas Barker to take into account Light’s guilty pleas and that members of his family were in court.
Judge Barker jailed Light, of Lawson Street, Carlisle, for a total of 13 months. He must serve a 42-month driving ban when released from prison.
Of the driving, Judge Barker told the defendant: “It could have led to a very serious risk of danger, injury or worse to other road users who simply would not expect a person to drive in such an obvious, dangerous and disregarding way. That’s what you did to avoid the police.”
