Driver sped through estate at 70mph to escape cops

Michael Fahey , a provisional licence holder, stopped his vehicle close to the railway crossing on Skellingthorpe Road in Lincoln after he spotted a police car with its blue flashing lights on.

But when he realised that he was the target of the police officers he accelerated away only to be pursued into the Hartsholme Estate.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said: “He turned left into Hemswell Avenue. He was doing 60 mph in a 30 limit. He was driving over speed bumps and nearly hit a taxi at the bottom of Hemswell Avenue.

“He turned onto Scampton Avenue and then on to Ashby Avenue. He exceeded 70 mph on Ashby Avenue and made no attempt to slow down.

“He came back onto Skellingthorpe Road and then turned left into Hartsholme Park. The officers followed him. He went through the park at speed and eventually he ended up in a bush. He ran off but was apprehended.”

Fahey had a carrier bag with him which contained 236g of cannabis bush. When questioned he said the drugs belonged to somebody else.

Fahey,aged 28, of Westwick Drive, Lincoln, admitted dangerous driving as a result of the incident on the afternoon of February 26.

He also admitted driving unsupervised without a full licence, having no insurance and possession of cannabis. He was jailed for eight months and banned from driving for two years and four months.

James Gray, defending, said that when police approached Fahey he panicked because knew he had cannabis in the car.

Mr Gray said: “Had he not had the cannabis in the car he wouldn’t have felt the need to speed away from the police and he would not have been driving dangerously.”

“Since this he first of all reduced his cannabis intake and is now not taking it all.”