An Audi driver tore through roadwork at speeds over 70mph during a dramatic police chase. The heart-stopping moment happened after Callum Powell drove along Ridgeway, Top Valley, and surrounding roads away from a pursing cop car.
He sped away because he had a knife in the high-perfomance motor. Nottingham Crown Court heard he drove over a pedestrian crossing on the wrong side of the carriageway into the path of an oncoming vehicle, but luckily they did not collide.
The car went through red lights on the A611, Hucknall Road, and forced its way through the nearside of a vehicle turning left, narrowly avoiding a collision. After tearing through built-up areas at high speeds for just short of five minutes, he stopped near a Covid 19 testing site, got out and was caught near Ridgeway.
READ MORE: Bigamist already married when he wed woman at Nottingham's Council House
Lucky Thandi, prosecuting, said on Wednesday, May 11, that: "It was luck rather than fortune there were no collisions, or such, or injured parties".
Aged 30 and from Hexham Gardens, Rise Park, Powell has ten convictions for 16 offences dating back to 2007. One conviction was for possessing a bladed article from 2009, and more recently he was driving without insurance and a licence
Benn Robinson, mitigating, said his client has established a, "different sort of life". In 2016 he attained a full driving licence and a taxed and insured vehicle. Two years later he met his current partner, who attended court to support him.
He has been in work before managing on State benefits since, but is hoping to get more paid work. "He seems to be doing relatively well until February 13", added Mr Robinson.
Powell was vacuuming his car at a garage when he found a knife he previously used to change a bulb on his licence plate. "He forgot it was there," explained Mr Robinson.
"He realises, if he was found with it, being stopped with it might be suspicious, given what was on his record in 2009." Powell intended to put the knife in a drawer at home but, it was a "crass error of judgement, he made the decision to try to lose the police in that pursuit".
Judge Stuart Rafferty QC said Powell pleaded guilty, receiving maximum credit, as he imposed 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, in total for dangerous driving and possessing the knife. Powell has to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, be on a two-year community order, and do 31 days of a "thinking skills programme". A driving ban will run for 12 months and an extended test requirement is in place if he intends to get behind the wheel of a car again.
To read all the biggest and best stories first sign up to read our newsletters here .
