Post by Madhatter on Aug 10, 2006 10:09:54 GMT
An Atherstone driver has received the maximum prison sentence available for the 'worst case' of dangerous driving the judge had ever come across.
But because the Judge at Warwick Crown Court had no choice over giving David Tonks a discount of a third off the two-year maximum sentence for the offence, the jail term he imposed was just 16 months.
Tonks (26) of St Mary's Road, Atherstone, was also banned from driving for 10 years after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving and having no insurance or driving licence.
Vicki Lofrese, prosecuting, told the court how Tonks led officers on a dangerous high speed chase, on motorways and through residential streets, at around 9.40pm on June 27.
They chased him from the M6 heading north towards Junction 5, Castle Bromwich, where he got off and went through 40mph limits at 76mph before turning back onto the M6 southbound.
He reached speeds of up to 104mph as he drove along the hard shoulder and forced his way through small gaps between two vehicles.
Tonks headed towards Nuneaton along the A5, doing about 90 mph along a dual carriageway with a 50 limit and driving through red lights.
He was finally brought to a stop after driving directly at a police car and losing control. Another rammed the side of his car. Tonks and a passenger got out and ran off but he was arrested.
When interviewed he said he had panicked because he had only just got the car and had no documents.
Shaun Logan, defending, said: "There was no justification for his driving. He had no insurance or licence, and he panicked. He is remorseful."
Jailing Tonks, Judge Richard Cole told him: "Having heard the facts, I have no doubt at all this is quite the worst case I have ever experienced in a very long time on the bench. It was quite shocking.
"You drove for a long distance without any regard to anyone else on the road.
"The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years, and Parliament lays down that, where there is a guilty plea, a third of the sentence has to be deducted. I do not have any choice in that.
"Had you killed anyone we would have been looking at a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, and it is a matter of your good fortune that no-one was."
Source atherstone herald tamworthherald.co.uk
But because the Judge at Warwick Crown Court had no choice over giving David Tonks a discount of a third off the two-year maximum sentence for the offence, the jail term he imposed was just 16 months.
Tonks (26) of St Mary's Road, Atherstone, was also banned from driving for 10 years after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving and having no insurance or driving licence.
Vicki Lofrese, prosecuting, told the court how Tonks led officers on a dangerous high speed chase, on motorways and through residential streets, at around 9.40pm on June 27.
They chased him from the M6 heading north towards Junction 5, Castle Bromwich, where he got off and went through 40mph limits at 76mph before turning back onto the M6 southbound.
He reached speeds of up to 104mph as he drove along the hard shoulder and forced his way through small gaps between two vehicles.
Tonks headed towards Nuneaton along the A5, doing about 90 mph along a dual carriageway with a 50 limit and driving through red lights.
He was finally brought to a stop after driving directly at a police car and losing control. Another rammed the side of his car. Tonks and a passenger got out and ran off but he was arrested.
When interviewed he said he had panicked because he had only just got the car and had no documents.
Shaun Logan, defending, said: "There was no justification for his driving. He had no insurance or licence, and he panicked. He is remorseful."
Jailing Tonks, Judge Richard Cole told him: "Having heard the facts, I have no doubt at all this is quite the worst case I have ever experienced in a very long time on the bench. It was quite shocking.
"You drove for a long distance without any regard to anyone else on the road.
"The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years, and Parliament lays down that, where there is a guilty plea, a third of the sentence has to be deducted. I do not have any choice in that.
"Had you killed anyone we would have been looking at a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, and it is a matter of your good fortune that no-one was."
Source atherstone herald tamworthherald.co.uk
