The driver, who was disqualified and had been drinking, has been jailed after ‘a quite terrible piece of driving’
Daniel Londesbrough admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance(Image: Humberside Police)
A heavy-drinking banned driver deliberately reversed his van directly at a terrified man – stopping just short of him – after an angry confrontation in the street turned nasty. Minutes later, the driver hurtled straight towards the man, forcing him to jump over a garden wall to avoid being hit.
The man had been left fearing for his safety and it was only by pure luck that the incident was not more serious, Hull Crown Court heard. Daniel Londesbrough, 34, of Julian Close, off Willerby Road, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on July 10.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that that a man returned home from a shop and parked his car but he heard the loud screech of a van being driven at a significant speed in Bloomfield Avenue, west Hull, towards Wold Road in the afternoon. He told the driver – Londesbrough – to slow down.
Londesbrough got out of the van and told the man: “I will get back in my van and I will meet you around the back tenfoot.” He approached the man, who pushed him backwards pre-emptively.
Londesbrough was slurring his words and he was unsteady on his feet. “The defendant got back into his van,” said Mr Torbett. The man walked towards it.
Londesbrough continued with his threats and started driving up the road – but he reversed directly at the man, stopping just short of him, in an attempt to intimidate him. There was a further confrontation at the window of the van before Londesbrough sped off.
He returned two minutes later and drove the van directly towards the man, mounting the kerb. The man jumped over a wall into his front garden to avoid being hit. The van hit the wall, causing damage.
The man later said that he and Londesbrough had “always been fine with each other” in the past. “Due to his dangerous actions, I now fear for my safety,” he said.
He was worried that Londesbrough might come to his house and cause further problems. “It could have been so much worse,” he said.
“It was just before children left school for the day. I would describe the defendant’s actions as dangerous.”
Londesbrough drove away from the scene. The police were alerted.
He was seen in nearby Julian Close and he was arrested. “He was slurring his words and he appeared to be unsteady on his feet,” said Mr Torbett. Londesbrough told police that he was banned from driving.
A breath test revealed that he had 100mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. During police interview, he made no comment to all questions.
He had convictions for 41 previous offences, including seven involving assaults, and a series of driving matters, including drink-driving in 2017 and last year, careless driving in 2024 and driving while disqualified last year.
Jane Rapin, mitigating, said that Londesbrough was sorry for the “awful incident” and he was relieved and grateful that nobody was hurt. He was going to have to live with thinking about what might have happened.
“He realises that he does have to change his habits and his behaviour,” said Miss Rapin. At the time of the incident, he had not been drinking for nine months but he did have a drink that day.
“It quickly turned into more than one,” said Miss Rapin. “He wasn’t able to stop. Alcohol had an impact on his thinking. He is now more determined to stop drinking.”
Londesbrough had used his time in custody, about nine weeks, very wisely and he had made the most of the opportunities available to him. “This was a momentary blip, a very serious blip,” said Miss Rapin. “He did express remorse.” He and his partner had six children together.
Recorder Richard Wright KC said that it was “a quite terrible piece of driving” and Londesbrough was drunk behind the wheel of a very large vehicle at a time when he was banned and uninsured. “You drove it in a persistent way on a residential street in a manner that was extremely dangerous,” said Recorder Wright.
Londesbrough risked serious injury to members of the public who might have been present. “These are offences so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified,” said Recorder Wright.
Londesbrough was jailed for 13 months. He was banned from driving for three years and four months and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
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