He was originally given a suspended sentence after taking a car and recklessly driving it which ended in a crash with a BMW
A speeding driver who narrowly avoided prison after hurtling through city streets and crashing head-on into another car during a hair-raising late-night episode has been warned that he could soon be jailed after all unless he shows “100 per cent compliance” with his sentence.
Lee Carmichael was originally given a suspended sentence but he ended up back in court again and facing being locked up for breaching the order, Hull Crown Court heard.
Carmichael, 20, of Sledmere Grove, west Hull, admitted breaching a 10-month suspended prison sentence imposed on April 14 for aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and having no insurance and driving licence on March 2. He failed to attend for probation service appointments on April 29 and July 8.
He had been given 20 days’ rehabilitation and he had been ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damage. He had been banned from driving for two years and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
The court heard that, after 10pm, a man collected some food for a friend and arrived with it in a blue Renault Clio in Beverley Road, Hull. He left the engine running and the keys in the ignition.
Carmichael got out of another vehicle and sat in the driver’s seat of the man’s car. The driver reacted by running towards his car, grabbing the front bumper and shouting: “Stop! Stop!”
Carmichael drove off, hitting the man’s shoulder as he did so. Damage was caused to the driver’s side headlight and the car’s radiator front bumper, front wing and windscreen.
James O’Connor, prosecuting, said that the man followed the stolen vehicle in a friend’s car. At about 10.20pm, police on patrol in Newland Avenue saw the Renault Clio pass them at speed in the opposite direction, heading towards Queens Road. The police turned round after temporarily losing sight of the car.
As they drove back down Newland Avenue, they discovered the Renault Clio on the wrong side of the road after it had crashed head-on with a BMW where Newland Avenue meets Queens Road.
Carmichael had been overtaking numerous vehicles at speed and he was on the wrong side of the road before the crash as he tried to negotiate a bend in the road. A group of males was restraining Carmichael after he tried to flee from the scene.
He denied any knowledge of what happened but the owner of the Renault Clio identified Carmichael as being responsible for stealing the car. Carmichael was arrested and he was taken to Clough Road police station. He made no comment to all questions during police interview. He had convictions for 10 previous offences between 2020 and 2022, including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified and having no insurance and driving licence.
Ashley Lambert-Jefferson, mitigating, said that Carmichael was leading a “transient life” and he had not had much support or guidance but he was now receiving help. “He is trying,” said Mr Lambert-Jefferson.
“He has assured me that he will be continuing to maintain contact with the probation service and will attend appointments. He apologises.”
Judge John Thackray KC warned Carmichael that he would be “serving a sentence” unless he now showed “100 per cent compliance” with the terms of the suspended prison sentence.
As he left the courtroom, Carmichael said: “Thank you. Have a nice day.”