(Image: The Northern Echo)
A banned driver was involved in a dangerous late night police pursuit on the outskirts of Darlington which was only brought to a halt when an officer collided into his car.
Matthew Cannings-Kent was driving a black Vauxhall Astra with false plates, which was seen travelling northbound from North Yorkshire into County Durham on the A1 late on May 11.
Teesside Crown Court heard that the Astra was spotted on Darlington’s Faverdale Industrial Estate at 11.25pm before Cannings-Kent drove dangerously in a bid to escape police attention.
Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said he drove the wrong way around a roundabout, reached 70mph on a 30-limit stretch of road and weaved between lanes.
Police followed the Astra along A68 West Auckland Road towards the A1.
Banned driver who led police on dangerous chase on roads near Darlington given a suspended prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court (Image: The Northern Echo)
It appeared to be joining the northbound carriageway before veering, apparently to drive southbound travelling in the wrong direction.
Ms Atkinson said the lead police driver deliberately collided with the side of the Astra to stop it endangering other road users on the A1.
Two men fled on foot, but officers detained Cannings-Kent, who told police: “I was just driving”.
Another occupant was detained inside the car.
Ms Atkinson said officers found two pairs of gloves, tin snips and bolt croppers in the Astra’s footwell.
In interview, the 27-year-old defendant said nothing, except to repeat: “I was just driving”.
But appearing before magistrates, two days later, he admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
He denied going equipped for crime but was convicted of the offence at a magistrates’ court trial last month.
Cannings-Kent, formerly of Batley, West Yorkshire, but now reportedly living in Gravesend, Kent, appeared for sentence on Tuesday (October 13).
He was said to have one previous conviction, for aggravated vehicle taking in 2021, but he was banned from driving in December under the totting-up procedure.
Ralf Xhepa, in mitigation, said the defendant has relocated away from negative influences in northern England to Kent, where he works as a roofer.
Mr Xhepa said Cannings-Kent’s partner has warned him she would end their relationship if he commits another offence.
He added that Cannings-Kent wants to build a life with his partner and family, and pledges to leave crime behind.
The court heard the Probation Service consider he poses a low risk of reoffending and believes he could be helped to stay out of crime.
Recorder Taryn Turner said his highly dangerous driving could have had “catastrophic consequences” if Cannings-Kent had been able to join the A1 going the wrong way.
She said it could have happened but for the police driver’s intervention.
Recorder Turner imposed a 13-month prison sentence but suspended it for 18 months because of his “relatively limited antecedent history” and the Probation Service’s belief he can be rehabilitated.
Cannings-Kent was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 in court costs.
He was also banned from driving for two years and must pass an extended re-test before driving legally again.