(Image: The Northern Echo)
A dangerous driver told he was “a lucky boy” to avoid jail earlier this year, may not be so fortunate when he’s brought back to court.
Sean Maughan, 21, was warned in January that it would be “a bad day” for him if he appeared back before a court in the next two years after being given a suspended prison sentence.
Previously he had admitted two counts of dangerous driving, both related to police chases, in the Spennymoor and Darlington areas.
The pursuits were only weeks apart in December 2023, the second on the defendant's 19th birthday.
Maughan, then of Spennymoor, received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to perform 240 hours’ unpaid work, as well as take part in 15 rehabilitation activity days overseen by the Probation Service.
At that hearing, Judge Tom Mitchell told him: “Today, you are a lucky boy because this is your one and only chance.
“I’m not going to send you to prison, but if you make a mug of me, by God almighty I will, if you commit another offence.
“If you come back before me, I promise you it will be a bad day for you.”
Maughan was also banned from driving for two years with an order to sit an extended re-test if he is to lawfully take to the road in future.
But the defendant, whose address was now given as Derwent Caravan Park, Rowlands Gill, near Gateshead, was due back before the court today (Thursday August 13) having breached the suspended sentence order passed in January.
As Maughan was not present at court, and in the absence of a satisfactory explanation for his non-appearance, Charlie Thompson, prosecuting told the hearing: “I’m told he’s not here and, in those circumstances, I’m instructed to apply for a warrant.”
Judge Edward Legard agreed to the request and issued the bench warrant, not backed with bail upon Maughan’s arrest.
As and when he is arrested, he will be brought back before the court in Durham.