A teenager who took a police officer on a high-speed chase just 11 days after being spared jail for a previous 104mph pursuit has been locked up for 22 months in a young offenders institution.
Alfie Ford, 19, was handed a suspended prison sentence in June after driving more than 100mph in a 40mph zone in an attempt to escape from police. Days later, he got back behind the wheel, sped away from a police officer on a motorbike and took them on another chase.
Previous dangerous driving
ChronicleLive reported how Ford previously sped off from cops while driving a black Vauxhall Corsa on Hedworth Lane in Jarrow. He drove on the wrong side of the road and was recorded as driving at 85mph in a 30mph zone and 104mph in a 40mph zone.
The court previously heard in June how he went through two red lights and was travelling at 80-90mph while overtaking vehicles. He also drove over a zebra crossing at 85mph when there were pedestrians nearby.
Police aborted the chase due to how dangerous his driving was. However, another officer, in a different vehicle, then spotted the car and followed it. Ford drove into the police car, causing damage to the vehicle, before colliding with a stationary van.
The defendant, and another person, ran from the car and he was arrested nearby. He admitted dangerous driving and was sentenced, on June 19, to 15 months in a young offenders institution suspended for two years. He was also banned from driving for two years.
Chase just days later
Ford appeared again at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday via a video link to Durham prison. The court heard how on June 30, 11 days after he was sentenced, a police officer recognised Ford driving past him with passengers in the car in South Shields.
The officer, who was on a police motorbike, flashed his lights, but Ford failed to stop. The court was told how he drove 50mph in a 30mph zone, 77mph in a 40mph zone and drove around a roundabout in the wrong direction.
The officer lost sight of Ford, who made off on Bankside Lane, as he drove the correct way around the roundabout.
Conviction and sentence
Ford, of Green Lane, South Shields, denied dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance but was convicted on all offences following a trial at magistrates' court. He was also in breach of the suspended prison sentence.
Robin Turton, defending, told Judge Spragg that Ford was still young, he was immature and that he had a lack of previous offending apart from the previous dangerous driving conviction. He said: "He never had a chance to work with the probation service. He has the prospect of employment and a supportive family. He's now spent in custody an extended period of time."
The judge told Ford that he had been given a chance but had done exactly the same thing again. He said: "I'm afraid it's your own fault that the order never had the chance to work. You put members of the public, your passengers and indeed the officer who had to chase you at real risk of injury."
He sentenced Ford to 22 months in a young offenders institution. Ford was banned from driving for two years and three months. He will have to pass an extended driving test before he gets back behind the wheel.
