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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
David Huntley

Sunderland van driver smashed head-on into car with child passenger after dangerous police chase

Steven Nelson Police Sunderland Katie Spence Durham Crown Court Vic Laffey Durham Ford

A van driver led police on a dangerous chase through County Durham before smashing head-on into a car that had a child in the front seat.

Steven Nelson was behind the wheel of a Ford Transit van on July 28 last year, when police tried to pull him over. But the 25-year-old instead led the officers on a dangerous pursuit which lasted up to 20 minutes and saw him driving on the wrong side of the road. Nelson, who had no insurance or a licence at the time, caused three separate accidents during the chase.

Nelson, of Park Avenue, New Silksworth, Sunderland, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for dangerous driving, and driving without a licence or insurance. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

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