A cocaine-taking driver had to be Tasered twice by the police when he desperately tried to run off after losing control of his car and crashing into a bollard during a hair-raising chase.
Prolific criminal Neil Key had a long list of 103 previous offences but he landed himself in yet more trouble when he drove along pavements, hurtled through red traffic lights and overtook queueing traffic during the police chase, Hull Crown Court heard.
Key, 52, of Ilchester Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on September 10 last year. He also admitted driving while disqualified, making off without paying for petrol and having no insurance and driving licence on July 2 last year.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, said that the offences on September 10 happened at about 4pm on the day that Key had been due to appear before Hull Magistrates’ Court in connection with the earlier set of offences. Police tried to stop him while he was driving a red Citroen C1 in Hedon Road, east Hull.
He was stopped in Ceylon Street but, when an officer approached the car, Key drove off. He was pursued but he overtook queueing traffic that was waiting at a junction, drove along pavements and went through red traffic lights.
The pursuit included the Marfleet Lane and Marfleet Avenue areas. Key drove on the wrong side of the road and overtook in the face of oncoming traffic. He mounted a pavement and drove along it to avoid colliding with incoming traffic, said Miss Rapin.
Key drove at about 50mph in 30mph speed limits but he eventually lost control of his car and it mounted a pavement and collided with a bollard. He had to be Tasered by police after he tried to run off.
“The officer believed that he was going to make off,” said Miss Rapin. “He turned away from her so she had to Taser him a second time.” During police interview, Key said that he drove dangerously because he had been using cocaine. He apologised for his actions.
The earlier offences on July 2 last year happened after Key drove a Honda Civic car on to the forecourt of a petrol service station in Maybury Road, off Holderness Road, east Hull, at about 11.30am. He put petrol, valued at £9.99, into the vehicle but told the cashier that he did not have any money.
“He offered to leave his mobile phone,” said Miss Rapin. “She said ‘No’. He left and said that he might come back later but he never did.” The incident was seen on CCTV pictures. The police identified Key and the car was seized. Key had convictions for 131 previous offences, including many for driving matters.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Key had not been in any further trouble since these offences. He had been managing to turn his life around and he had previously complied with the probation service over court orders. He realised that he was too old to be committing offences and risking going to prison.
The offences happened at a bad time in his life and he had suffered health problems.
Key was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, six months’ drug rehabilitation and 30 days’ rehabilitation. He was also fined £840 and was banned from driving for three years. He will have to pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.