Danger driver led police on 90mph chase through Hartlepool with pregnant girlfriend in car

The terrifying drive around Hartlepool was John Robinson’s seventh episode of dangerous driving that has now sent him to prison for the seventh time.

He was first convicted of dangerous driving when he was 14.

He had never owned a licence despite being ordered to pass the extended driving test each time he was banned, and his last disqualification was for five years for aggravated vehicle taking.

Robinson, 19, had bought the blue Corsa only two days before police tried to stop him for driving without insurance at 2.25am on December 2 in Seaton Lane.

A 20-minute video taken on the on-board cameras of the police patrol car was shown at Teesside Crown Court when he was sentenced.

It showed him racing through red traffic lights, travelling long distances on the wrong side of the road, taking roundabouts the wrong way and driving down a cycle track before crashing into the tree in Lancaster Road.

Four police cars had tried to box him in but Robinson accelerated out of the trap before careering to a halt. A police car was also slightly damaged.

He was taken to hospital for a check-up with his pregnant girlfriend and two other passengers but they were all relatively unscathed.

Prosecutor David Crook said: “There were at least three attempts in the approved manner to get the defendant to stop, but in his attempt to get around the vehicles, he crashed into a tree.”

Jim Withyman, defending, said that Robinson and his girlfriend were not aware at the time that she was pregnant.

He said Robinson expected to go straight to jail again. He asked for the sentence to be deferred for six months to give Robinson the chance to prove that he could stay out of trouble and to become a good father who could support his family.

The judge, Recorder Andrew Sutcliffe QC, said: “It would be hard to envisage a more appalling example of dangerous driving.

“It is apparent from the film which I have watched that you intended to escape from the police driving at the reckless and terrifying speed of 90mph in a 30mph limit in a built-up area.

“The police are to be commended for stopping you and in a manner without anyone being injured. It is your seventh offence of dangerous driving dating back to when you were only 14 years old.

“It is plain that no matter the attempts the courts have made in the past to assist or desist you you have made no attempt to change your offending.”

Robinson, of Dacre Street, South Shields, was jailed for 18 months reduced from the maximum of two years and disqualified for five years and until he passes an extended driving test.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving disqualified, failing to stop and no insurance, and he walked off to the cells singing.