Danger driver crashed into wall after losing control while being chased by police

James Flounders, 29, who was driving a Vauxhall Vectra without the owner’s permission, drove at speeds of up to 50mph around Rift House at about 4pm in the afternoon, including near a primary school.

Teesside Crown Court heard he panicked when he caught the attention of police when he failed to slow down at a junction and accelerated along Masefield Road at 40mph.

Police activated their light and siren but Phillip Morley, prosecuting, said: “The defendant’s vehicle didn’t stop but instead accelerated away described by the officers as harshly.

"The vehicle was travelling at speeds up to 50 miles per hour and was overtaking other vehicles causing vehicles in the oncoming lane to take evasive action.”

Flounders drove in the same manner down a number of streets on September 2 last year including Browning Avenue.

Mr Morley added: “He finally lost control of the vehicle at a junction with Kendal Avenue and his vehicle skidded into the perimeter wall of a residential address.”

Flounders tried to run away but was caught by police after a short chase on foot.

The householder was quoted £850 to rebuild the wall.

The Vectra belonged to the brother of a female passenger who did not say Flounders could take it.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said in mitigation: “The offences came about he tells me because he panicked.

"It wasn’t the longest of police chases that these courts frequently encounter.

"Thankfully, it would appear nobody was hurt.”

The court heard Flounders’ actions were also partly due to problems he has linked to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, having no insurance and no valid licence.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Paul Watson, said Flounders was driving erratically at a busy time of day.

He added: “What followed was a police chase in which you were taking outrageous risks with the safety of other road users.”

Flounders, of Kendal Road, Hartlepool, was sentenced to nine months prison suspended for 18 months and banned from driving for 18 months.

He was given a 24-week home curfew between 7pm and 6am.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here.

Thank you.