Passenger swapped seats with driver at 40mph
A passenger spotted swapping places with a driver in a car while it was moving, sparking a police pursuit, has avoided an immediate custodial sentence.
The pursuit began when officers saw Josh Gair and the driver changing places in an open-top Ford Escort travelling at 40mph, with Gair getting into the driver's seat, Stafford Crown Court heard.
The Escort failed to stop for the police and as it travelled through Lichfield, it reached speeds of 60mph, failed to give way at a junction and forced oncoming traffic to move out the way. Gair, who had been recognised by sight, eventually abandoned the car and ran off but was caught. The court heard the incident happened exactly a month after Gair had been booked for another offence of dangerous driving in Burntwood.
The 20-year-old, of The Pines, Lichfield, admitted two charges of dangerous driving and two of driving while disqualified. He was sentenced to 12 months' youth custody suspended for two years, ordered to do 150 hours' unpaid community work and banned from driving for a year. He will also have to pass an extended driving test before getting his licence back.
Recorder Mr Martin Hurst told him: "Over the last two or three years, you have become a menace. All the local police officers and PCSOs know you by name. One of them was able to shout to you 'stop Josh'. You are at a turning point in your life, it's in your hands to change it. You are only 20, I am going to take a chance on you."
Mr Stuart Clarkson, prosecuting, said the first incident happened in Burntwood on February 7. A woman police officer was directing traffic when Gair's Fiat Punto overtook a line of vehicles and narrowly missed the officer. As the car went by, she recognised Gair and shouted 'stop Josh'.
On March 7, officers saw the Escort mount a pavement near The Pines and followed it until the dangerous seat-swapping manoeuvre took place.
Gair accelerated, forcing a car in Park Lane to swerve and then going over a 'blind' bridge in Broad Lane at 30mph. The pursuit continued in to Whittington and after Gair failed to give way at crossroads, the police car drew alongside. Gair had then tried to run it off the road.
