The shameless motorist tried to get out of it by claiming that somebody else had been driving and run off
Serial criminal Daniel Oxtoby(Image: Humberside Police)
A cocaine-using banned driver “could so nearly have killed somebody” when he hurtled along roads at high speed before suddenly losing control of his van, hitting a kerb and rolling it onto its side during a frightening police chase. Serial criminal Daniel Oxtoby was confronted by the police after the crash but he shamelessly tried to talk his way out of trouble by telling them: “He’s gone. The driver’s gone.”
It was “only by luck that nobody was injured and no other vehicle was damaged” because of his reckless antics, Hull Crown Court heard. Oxtoby, 39, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving while over the limit for cocaine and having no insurance at Shiptonthorpe, near Market Weighton, on June 20.
Natalie Dean, prosecuting, said that police spotted a white Vauxhall Combo van being driven by Oxtoby on the wrong side of the road and overtaking an HGV lorry on the A1079 at Market Weighton at 10.28pm. The van nearly hit the police vehicle.
The police pursued the van as it was driven towards Shiptonthorpe at 90mph. It reached the roundabout with the A614 away from Shiptonthorpe without indicating.
The police continued to chase the van, which was driven at 80mph in a 60mph limit. Oxtoby lost control of the van and it skimmed across both carriageways, hit the kerb and rolled over onto its side.
Police went up to the van and Oxtoby stuck his head out of it and said: “He’s gone. The driver’s gone.” He claimed that he was not the driver. He later tested positive for cocaine.
Oxtoby made no comment during police interview. He had convictions for 21 previous offences, including dangerous driving in 2015, driving while disqualified in 2019, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and resisting police in 2020 and driving while disqualified, driving over the drug limit and having no insurance in 2021.
Oliver Norman, mitigating, said that Oxtoby had taken cocaine but there was no damage to other vehicles. “This was a relapse into previous drug use,” said Mr Norman. “It’s only by luck that nobody was injured and no other vehicle was damaged.”
Oxtoby had been recalled to custody because of these offences and he was now due to be released from prison in November or December. “In custody, he has remained drug-free,” said Mr Norman.
“He is now in a lot better position than he was on that night last year. He is truly ashamed of his actions.” Oxtoby had previously worked as a roofer.
Deputy circuit judge Timothy Clayson told Oxtoby: “You could so nearly have killed somebody.”
Oxtoby, of Wide Lane, Morley, Leeds, was jailed for eight months. He was banned from driving for two years. He already has to pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.