He had drawn attention to himself because he had an outsize and “out of place” orange beacon bar on the roof of his Nissan Micra
Precious Ozurumba appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A young uninsured driver who was heading on his way to sell his car suddenly panicked and sped off after realising to his horror that he was being chased by the police. He hurtled through red traffic lights, over speed bumps and refused to stop in a doomed bid to outrun the pursuing police.
The attention of the officers was first drawn to his car because an outsize and “out of place” orange beacon bar was in full view on the roof, Hull Crown Court heard. Precious Ozurumba, 20, of Bardshaw, off Orchard Park Road, north Hull, admitted dangerous driving and having no insurance and driving licence on December 12.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that police were driving along Queens Road, Hull, at about 10.43pm when they saw a silver Nissan Micra. “The vehicle stood out as it had an orange beacon bar on the roof that was wider than the vehicle itself, making it look out of place,” said Mr Torbett.
The car travelled onto Newland Avenue before turning right onto De Grey Street. Police completed checks using the national computer and these showed it to be uninsured.
The car turned left onto Beverley Road and police illuminated their flashing blue lights to ask it to stop. The driver – Ozurumba – did not comply and the car’s speed increased to 50mph in a 30mph limit.
A large number of pedestrians were in the area because it was a Friday evening. The car went through red traffic lights at a junction on Beverley Road without making any attempt to slow down or show signs of caution.
A vehicle that had priority was about to drive out of the junction with Haworth Street but it had to wait to avoid a collision with the Nissan Micra.
The car continued along Beverley Road, reaching 70mph at times in 30mph limits, before turning left onto Endike Lane and travelling at about 40mph over speed bumps, causing sparks to fly from under the car. “The vehicle approached a roundabout and continued straight across, again making no effort to slow down for the junction,” said Mr Torbett.
“The vehicle then exited onto Greenwood Avenue and turned right onto Inglemire Lane. At the end of Inglemire Lane, at the junction with Hall Road, the vehicle failed to navigate the junction.
“It collided with the centre island and two ‘Keep Left’ bollards, causing damage to the street furniture and to the vehicle. The lightbar on the vehicle illuminated and began flashing orange.”
The car continued along Hall Road, approaching the roundabout with Thwaite Street, Cottingham. “The vehicle lost control and span 180 degrees, which resulted in it directly facing the police vehicle,” said Mr Torbett.
A police officer approached the car and detained Ozurumba at 10.49pm. He was taken to Clough Road police station.
Steven Garth, mitigating, said that Ozurumba was naive, shy, quiet and young. He lived with his parents and came from a highly respectable Nigerian family. He had lived in this country for about 10 years and he had no previous convictions.
Ozurumba pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he felt immense shame, regret and remorse. He had been assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending.
He was on his way to sell the car at the time of the incident and he panicked when he saw the police car in pursuit behind him. “He is unlikely ever to trouble the courts again,” said Mr Garth.
Ozurumba was given an eight-month suspended custodial sentence and 150 hours’ unpaid work. He was banned from driving for one year and he will have to pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again. He was ordered to pay £150 costs and a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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