The 39-year-old ‘accepts he is getting too old for this sort of behaviour’, a court heard
Paul Parkes has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
A banned driver led police on a high-speed pursuit through the streets of Hull before ploughing into a taxi. Dashcam footage of the police chase showed the dramatic collision of the car into the side of the taxi.
The driver, who is blind in one eye and partially-sighted in the other, fled the scene after the crash, a court heard.
Paul Parkes, 39, of Worthing Street, Hull, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a sample for analysis and driving without insurance on May 23.
Richard Butters, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that dashcam footage of the pursuit started on Clough Road, Hull, at about midnight. Police became suspicious of the manner of driving by a Renault driver and followed the car into Beverley Road.
It turned into Inglemire Lane, where Parkes signalled for the police car to pass him. But when the officer illuminated the police traffic car’s blue lights, he sped off back on to Beverley Road, where he went through a red light.
The Renault driver went through another red light into Worthing Street, where his speed was in excess of the speed limit. The dashcam footage captured the driver’s car lifting off the ground as it went over speed humps.
Three pedestrians had to jump out of the way as Parkes turned into Washington Street. On Alexandra Road, the car sped away at more than 40mph in a 20mph zone.
When the car approached Newland Avenue, the driver failed to give way and ploughed into the side of a taxi. Parkes jumped out of his car and ran away. He was pursued on foot and was caught about 40 metres away.
Parkes had convictions for 70 previous offences, mainly for dishonesty. He also had a previous 18-month driving ban from last year for being over the limit.
Mr Butters said the dangerous driving was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road and showed disregard for others by making dangerous manoeuvres. The driving was impaired by alcohol or drugs and was significantly above the speed limit in built-up areas of Hull.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that Parkes expressed his remorse. “At nearly 40 years, he accepts he is getting too old for this sort of behaviour,” said Mr Torbett. Parkes had a “crippling drug addiction” and he described his vision as “blind in one eye and partially-blind in the other”.
Parkes was jailed for a total of 18 months and he was banned him from driving for three years and nine months. He must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
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