Mark Campbell, a 26-year-old from Welbeck Road, Walker, Newcastle, has been jailed for 15 months after police pulled him off a stolen motorbike during a dangerous pursuit. Campbell, who was already on a suspended prison sentence for driving offences, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
Police pursuit on September 11
At around 5.10pm on September 11 this year, police spotted two men on motorbikes on a footpath in Newcastle. Officers activated their blue lights and sirens, but the riders made off and a chase began. The pair left the path and travelled into oncoming traffic before returning to the path next to Scotswood Road.
They left the pavement again and crossed the full carriageway, passing between lines of traffic and going over the central reservation. One of the pursuing officers then managed to pull Campbell off his bike, while the other rider managed to make off.
Stolen bike and previous convictions
Checks revealed the bike Campbell was on, which had had its registration plates removed, had been stolen from a woman's back yard a week earlier. Campbell was already banned from driving and had no insurance. He has 28 previous convictions and was already subject to a suspended sentence from August last year for drug driving, having no insurance or licence and failing to wear protective gear.
Court sentencing and defence
Recorder Bryan Cox KC told Campbell: "If you carry on driving like this you will kill somebody and end up going to prison for a long time. Grow up and get yourself sorted out."
Antonia Adie, defending, said: "There's an element of immaturity and poor decision making and risk taking. He had quite a poor start in life and grew up in unstable environments." Miss Adie said Campbell's partner gave birth to his daughter three days ago and was in court to support him. Miss Adie said: "He hopes to be a better father for his daughter and feels he will be if he is sentenced to a short period in custody to wipe the slate clean."
Campbell was jailed for a total of 15 months and banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.
