A DANGEROUS driver who narrowly missed a cyclist and lied about being behind the wheel has been jailed - after officers recognised him on the rider’s head cam footage.

Kyle Walsh was identified performing the dangerous manoeuvres in the Hendon area of Sunderland in 2019.

A court was told how a cyclist was travelling on Suffolk Street on April 19 when a VW Passat flew past him at high speed on the wrong side of the road.

He continued on his journey and when he reviewed his rear-view head-cam he saw the vehicle weaving between cars at high speed and narrowly avoiding a collision.

The 38-year-old cyclist submitted the footage through the force website before officers launched an investigation and identified Walsh as being one of the named drivers on its insurance policy.

A fixed penalty notice was sent to the 33-year-old in the post but he returned the form claiming one of his associates was behind the wheel.

But when police made inquiries with the person named as being the driver they found he couldn’t have been responsible – as he was on remand in prison at the time.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "We reviewed the footage and were able to identify Walsh as being the person behind the wheel and so he was interviewed under caution.

"He was later charged with dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. Yesterday he was jailed for six months at Newcastle Crown Court and handed a 15-month driving ban.

"We welcome the custodial sentence that reflects the appalling nature of his driving.

"It was by luck, not judgement, that nobody was injured as he travelled at high speed into oncoming traffic on what was a minor road with a number of pedestrians.

"Walsh, of Cairo Street, Hendon, tried to squirm out of his punishment but ultimately his lies are what led to him being put behind bars."

The spokesperson added the conviction would not have been possible without the cyclist submitting his head-cam footage.

 

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