(Image: DURHAM POLICE)
An Audi driver reached speeds of 70mph and narrowly missed crashing into a lorry as he led police on an early-hours chase through Darlington
Jamie Unwin was driving his Audi A6 through 30-limit areas including St Cuthbert's Way and Grange Road in the centre of Darlington in his Audi A6, shortly after 3am on Friday November 8, 2024, being followed by police.
He narrowly missed colliding with a lorry and crossed over a roundabout, again at high speed, a court heard.
When he was later identified as the registered owner of the car, he phoned police and claimed the vehicle was missing, suggesting that someone in his shared household may have been responsible.
But, by the time he came before Teesside Crown Court for a plea hearing, on January 30, he withdrew that suggestion and admitted charges of dangerous driving and doing an act likely to pervert the course of justice.
He returned to the court a few weeks later, when the sentence was deferred for six months by Recorder Ayesha Smart.
The defendant was told the conditions of the deferment were that he should not re-offend and must provide clean drug tests during the six months’ deferment period.
But, on his return to be sentenced on Monday (August 24), the court was told that while he has not committed any further offences, he failed two of his first three monthly drug tests, with positive readings for the presence of cocaine, the last in June.
His counsel, Jordan Parkinson, told the court, however, that the Probation Service stated the defendant had engaged “throughout”, was in full-time employment and has stable accommodation
Recorder Smart told the defendant he was seen getting into an Audi A6 while appearing heavily intoxicated at 3am that day, before taking part in a, “high risk, prolonged pursuit”, with police.
She said the offending was aggravated by relevant previous behaviour by him.
The Recorder said while the defendant may not have “fully complied” with the requirements set for him when the sentence was deferred, with, “two blips” relating to abstinence, he does appear to have otherwise complied and seems to be now making a genuine attempt to deal with his issues relating to cocaine.
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She, therefore passed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered the defendant undergo 150-hours’ unpaid work, as well attend 20 rehabilitation activity sessions run by the Probation Service.
He must also comply with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement, featuring monthly sessions to check compliance.
Unwin, 29, of Union Mews, Harthill, Sheffield, was also banned from driving for a year and must then sit an extended re-test to lawfully be able to take to the road again.