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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Katie Spence, prosecuting, said police were on patrol when Nelson was spotted driving a Transit Van and they attempted to pull him over. She said: "Police activated their blue lights but he failed to stop and led them on a pursuit which lasted up to 20 minutes and involved several officers. The defendant has made a significant journey around the Toft Hill and Bishop Auckland area and three accidents happened."
Ms Spence, said that during the chase, Nelson knocked off the wing mirror of an Asda van as he "tried to bully his way through traffic" and went through red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, and also drove round roundabouts the wrong way. The court head that a second accident occurred when Nelson was driving the wrong way round a roundabout and crashed into a black Astra. He continued on, driving dangerously down narrow roads and at one point narrowly missed a horse and trap.
Ms Spence, added: "The final accident happened when the defendant drives head on into a Ford Focus belonging to a woman who had her four-year-old daughter in the front seat." The woman sustained injuries to her chest and her car was written-off following the crash. After a short foot-chase, Nelson was arrested and made no comment in interview.
The court was told Nelson had previous convictions for driving offences. In 2017 he was dealt with for drink-driving, drug-driving and driving without insurance, and in 2019 he was banned from driving for 11 months after being convicted of driving whilst disqualified and failing to stop.
Vic Laffey, defending, said Nelson had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and said he "panicked" when police attempted to pull him over. He said: "He's genuinely sorry about what he's done here, especially the last collision, which could've potentially been a lot worse and he accepts that." Mr Laffey added that Nelson was in a long-term relationship and was a stepfather to children and was "highly thought of" at the company he works.
Sentencing him, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said Nelson was caught driving at "grossly excessive speeds" and said the "risk of death or injury to other road users was evident". Nelson was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for 25 months. He must do an extended re-test if he wants his licence back.
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