A judge has declared that the circumstances in a dangerous driving case 'are so bad' that 'it is a strong example for Parliament to revisit the maximum sentence' for the offence. Judge Jonathan Carroll expressed his opinion while sentencing Dillon Day, 22, who exceeded 100mph during a police pursuit along the A174 and through a street where schoolchildren were making their way to lessons. Day only came to a halt after crashing into a property on a residential Middlesbrough street.
Details of the Chase
Teesside Crown Court heard that Day was observed driving a white Mercedes E-Class, which had been stolen two hours previously, on 28 November. A property on Overdale Road, in Middlesbrough, was burgled and the vehicle keys removed from a handbag during the early hours, Kathryn Wetherley, prosecuting, explained. The female victim discovered she had been burgled and her vehicle stolen at 6.30am, upon rising for work. Two hours afterwards police identified Day operating the car, with two passengers in the rear.
He refused to stop and accelerated down Cass House Road, in Hemlington, at 85mph and officers activated their sirens, Ms Wetherley informed the court. Day mounted a pavement on Station Way; drove through red lights; and travelled along the A174 on the wrong side of the road, reports Teesside Live. With officers in pursuit, Day exceeded 100mph before veering off the A174 and turning onto Thornaby Road. He tore through fields at 40mph before hurtling towards oncoming vehicles on Acklam Road.
Endangering Schoolchildren
Ms Wetherley recounted how he sped straight past a lollipop lady who was escorting children into school. The reckless motorist struck two vehicles during the chase before ploughing into the wall of a property on Sandringham Road, also causing damage to the fencing and walls of two neighbouring homes. Upon his arrest, following a brief foot chase, officers established that he was serving a driving ban. He caused 'extensive damage' to the Mercedes, Ms Wetherley added.
Additional Offences
Day appeared before the court to be sentenced for two separate sets of driving offences. He had also been stopped while behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Mokka on December 4, on Longlands Road. He held only a provisional licence and had no insurance, and when officers conducted a roadside drugs test, he returned a positive result for cocaine and cannabis. He entered guilty pleas to eight offences at a previous hearing: Day, of Overdale Road in Middlesbrough, admitted: aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and with no insurance, drug driving, and driving for a second time with no insurance, and no licence, and breaching a community order.
Previous Convictions
He carries prior convictions for taking a vehicle without consent and dangerous driving. In 2022, he robbed a branch of Greggs in North Ormesby. He walked free from court with a community order last year after being found carrying a knife in public, but has since failed to attend mandatory appointments with the probation service – including one to complete unpaid work. Day's barrister, David Ward, informed the court that his client 'has a very poor record' and has come to court 'prepared to go to prison'.
Judge's Remarks
Judge Carroll noted that the maximum custodial sentence available for dangerous driving is two years. 'The general public would be shocked to know this,' the judge remarked. 'It was 8.30am when the police tried to stop you on November 28 - a busy time of day. You were doing 85mph on residential roads; on the wrong side of the road; you drove onto the pavement and through red lights. You drove past a lollipop lady escorting children. But for the grace of God, we could be dealing with a manslaughter or murder case, through your idiotic driving. And still the maximum sentence is two years, I'm obliged to follow that - this does not allow me to give a sentence reflective of the harm you have caused.'
The judge dismissed Day's claim that he had been experiencing poor mental health, stating 'there is no evidence whatsoever' to support it. Following the reduction for Day's guilty pleas, the judge sentenced him to 21 months in custody. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.
