A teenager led police on a high speed chase in her mum's truck after taking a trip to McDonald's in the early hours of the morning.
Brodie Lee Denham, who only had a provisional driving licence and no insurance, took her mum's pick-up truck without permission in the early hours of March 10 this year and went for a drive with a passenger. But when suspicious police attempted to pull over the 18-year-old, she failed to stop, instead leading officers on a 10 minute chase that only ended when a stinger device was used.
Denham, of Kirkstall Walk, St Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance.
Read more: 'Normal 21-year-old' from Bishop Auckland with 'good job' downloaded sickening child abuse images
Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said shortly before 3am on March 10, Denham's mum was woken up by police telling her her daughter had been involved in a pursuit. He said: "The defendant took her mum's pick-up truck without permission and police had followed the vehicle following reports of suspicious activity which did not involve the defendant.
"Blue lights were activated but the defendant didn't pull over and hit speeds of 70mph on the A688 and drove at 50mph in a 40mph zone. She went the wrong way around two roundabouts and went through a pedestrian crossing at 70mph. A stinger device was used to stop the vehicle and she was detained. She said she had panicked."
Amrit Jandoo, defending, said Denham had no previous convictions and only had a provisional driving licence. He said: "She had been to McDonald's and felt well enough to drive. Her driving test was booked but the test was not taken as it was felt she was not ready." Mr Jandoo added that as a result of the offence, her family temporarily "excluded" her from the family home.
Judge Jo Kidd said Denham had been driving as if she was "some sort of stunt driver" and called the incident "disgraceful". She was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work. She was banned from driving for two years and made subject of a six month curfew between 8pm and 6am.
Read next:
- Children of much-loved Ashington mum who died of cervical cancer still 'have questions'
- Newcastle championship dog show judge's 'snarling' Rough Collie bit neighbour in vicious attack
- Arrest warrant issued for Blyth couple who allegedly breached order banning them from keeping animals
- Japanese Akita that bit woman's face during unprovoked attack in County Durham could be put-down
- Stanley man jailed after trying to 'coerce' witness into not cooperating with police investigation
