A disqualified driver who tore down a major dual carriageway at 100mph in a stolen BMW during a hair-raising police pursuit has been put behind bars.
Joshua Hutchinson, 28, of no fixed abode, ignored the blue lights and sirens of a Northumbria Police patrol car on the A19 in Sunderland, choosing instead to put his foot down and attempt a desperate escape.
The dramatic chase, which unfolded on the afternoon of 11th February, saw Hutchinson weaving dangerously through traffic at twice the legal speed limit, showing a blatant disregard for the safety of other road users.
His reckless flight came to a sudden and violent end when he lost control of the powerful saloon, crashing and bringing the dangerous pursuit to a halt. He was subsequently arrested at the scene.
A History of Driving Offences
Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Hutchinson faced charges of dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, and driving without insurance. The court heard how he was already subject to a three-year driving ban imposed just months earlier, in November 2023.
This previous conviction meant he was also in breach of a suspended prison sentence, adding to the severity of his latest crimes.
Justice Served
Presiding over the case, Judge Sarah Mallett delivered the sentence. Hutchinson was handed a 14-month immediate prison term for his actions. In addition to his time behind bars, he was once again disqualified from driving, this time for three years and seven months. He will also be required to pass an extended retest before he can ever legally get behind the wheel again.
Following the sentencing, a spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) condemned Hutchinson's "appallingly dangerous driving", emphasising that it was "only through sheer luck that no one was seriously injured or killed".
This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of flouting the law and endangering lives on Britain's roads.
