A Penrith driver has been jailed for leading police on a dangerous high speed chase.
Blake Stuart, 29, was behind the wheel of a BMW 1 series vehicle spotted by two PCs as they dealt with a separate incident just before 1am on May 6 last year.
It turned off Sandgate on to Folly Lane and began to travel at considerable speed, above the 30mph limit, Carlisle Crown Court heard today. Police activated blue lights and a siren but Stuart appeared to speed up still further.
“It passed two pedestrians who were standing on a very narrow part of the pavement whilst the vehicle passed them at speed,” said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson. “A PC says he could recall seeing the pedestrians looking alarmed.”
Stuart then sped through a blind junction and stop sign on to Carleton Road without checking for passing traffic before the PCs lost sight of him. Around 20 minutes later he was found cowering behind a dry stone wall on Beacon Edge, and went on to admit: “There’s no point denying it, I was driving.”
In interview he spoke of not looking at his speedometer to check the speed and, Mr Rogerson told the court, claimed his driving wasn’t dangerous and said it was just his normal driving.
Stuart, of Stricklandgate, Penrith, admitted a dangerous driving offence which, said his lawyer Andrew Gurney, arose out of a moment of madness. “There is no justification for him driving in the manner that he did,” said Mr Gurney. “He is deeply remorseful and does deeply regret his actions and the potential consequences for him today.”
Judge Richard Archer noted that Stuart had been cautioned and then convicted of motoring misdemeanours in 2013 and 2016, and was facing his third driving ban.
Despite Stuart having a young family and pledging to mend his ways, the judge jailed him for six months for what he called a serious case of dangerous driving. “It was patently obvious how you should and indeed should not behave behind the wheel,” concluded Judge Archer.
Stuart must served a two-year driving ban when released from custody, and pass an extended retest before his licence is returned.
