(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A dangerous driving teen who led police on chases has been jailed after breaching a suspended sentence.
Sean Maughan attended Durham Crown Court before Judge Tom Mitchell on Thursday, October 22.
Maughan, 21, first appeared before Judge Mitchell on January 8 after admitting two counts of dangerous driving.
The offences followed police chases in the Spennymoor and Darlington areas just weeks apart in December 2023, with the second on his 19th birthday.
Sean Maughan jailed for breaching a suspended sentence order by driving while disqualified and failing to attend unpaid work sessions
He was given a 14-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 240 hours' unpaid work and 15 Probation Service rehabilitation days.
At that hearing, Judge 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 and ordered to pass an extended re-test before driving again.
Appearing back before Judge Mitchell at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday (October 22), Maughan admitted breaching his suspended sentence order twice and after recent convictions for driving while disqualified and uninsured, plus possession of nitrous oxide.
Maughan, formerly of Spennymoor and recently said to have been living with his mother in Scotland, was caught driving a van while disqualified in Durham Road, Esh Winning, and found with nitrous oxide, on May 22.
Prosecutor Ellen Wright said police became aware of Maughan after he was reportedly driving the van erratically.
The court heard Maughan’s compliance with the January order’s unpaid work and probation requirements had been “poor”, and he had only recently re-engaged.
Maughan’s barrister, Shada Mellor, said he had been threatened by a man who knew where he carried out his unpaid work, which is why he failed to attend sessions.
She urged Judge Mitchell not to activate the sentence, saying Maughan was now willing to work with the Probation Service in Scotland to complete the order.
But Judge Mitchell told Maughan: “I gave you a chance, and this is how you reward it.
“I’m not usually known as someone who passes suspended sentences for people on dangerous driving convictions.
“You have a terrible record as far as driving is concerned.
“Whatever else is going on in your life there can be no reasonable explanation for how you find yourself behind the wheel of a vehicle in May this year.
“You seem to be unable to stop yourself from doing it.
“I bent over backwards to try to accommodate you the last time.
“You have a habit of driving while disqualified, but not only that, it was after I told you what would happen if you did.
“It was reckless to the extreme.”
The judge jailed Maughan for 16 months, including 12 months from the previous suspended sentence, and banned him from driving for 30 months.
Maughan must pass an extended re-test before he can drive legally after the ban expires.