He drove on the wrong side of the road, went the wrong way around a roundabout and knocked down a roadside sign
Lee Strawson appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
Police chased a panicking driver as he hurtled through a country village at frightening speeds of 90mph as well as driving on the wrong side of the road and heading through a roundabout the wrong way. Banned driver Lee Strawson was “bored” and was showing off to friends shortly before he suddenly pulled in, abandoned the car and ran off.
He later returned to the vehicle and did not try to tell a “tall story” about his highly dangerous and “reckless” antics, Hull Crown Court heard. Strawson, 25, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and driving while over the drug limit on September 21.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that police saw a Volvo car and a scooter side by side on the A166 in the village of Wetwang, west of Driffield, at about 1.45pm. The scooter rider was apparently talking with the driver of the car through the window.
In Garton-on-the-Wolds, east of Wetwang and nearer to Driffield, the Volvo, driven by Strawson, made off at speed and increased its speed to 90mph in a 30mph limit. The car was driven on the wrong side of the road and it went the wrong way around a roundabout.
It knocked down a roadside sign, causing damage to the car. The police followed the car until it came to a stop and was abandoned nearby. An officer spoke to a passenger in the car.
Strawson had left the car but he returned and told police that he panicked when he saw them trying to stop him. A drugs test revealed that he was over the legal limit.
It was discovered that he was a banned driver. During police interview, Strawson made no comment to all questions. He had previous convictions and he had been banned from driving for three years in July last year.
Brogan Riley, mitigating, said that Strawson pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. “He does not seek to diminish what he has done here,” said Miss Riley.
“This is serious offending. He has never sought to diminish that. He does not bring a tall story before the court. He knows that he should not have driven at all, let alone in the manner that he did.
“He acted in the way that he did because he wanted to impress his friends. He is easily led and he was bored. It was impulsive thinking.
“He made an escape from that vehicle. His conscience was triggered and he voluntarily returned to that vehicle.
“He does realise the severity of his actions and he returned to the scene and made the admissions that he did.” Strawson was now looking for work and he was motivated to move forward and leave this behaviour behind.
Judge John Thackray KC told Strawson: “I am worried about the risk to the public of your reckless behaviour. This could so easily have led to a death or serious injury and you would be facing a sentence measured in many years.
“You did come to your senses and go back to the car. I hope you are maturing and realise that you can’t behave like this.”
Sentence on Strawson, of Wyther Park Place, Armley, Leeds, was deferred until September 7 for him to prove that he can keep out of trouble. An interim driving ban will continue.
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