A man with “an appalling” driving record has been jailed for his latest motoring offending in which he and a passenger leapt from a van being chased by police.
Robert Peter Holliday was at the wheel of as Volkswagen Transporter van which made off at speed when approached by police at midday on October 1.
Durham Crown Court heard that it began a lengthy pursuit in which he drove dangerously in built up urban and residential areas, in Bishop Auckland and Crook.
Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said Holliday reached 85-miles per hour, failed to give way at junctions, carried out “risky” overtaking manoeuvres and went the wrong way around a roundabout.
Read more: Six people jailed in cases at Durham Crown Court this week
Holliday and his passenger decided to decamp the van as it was still travelling at about 30mph, leaving the unmanned vehicle to crash into a wooden fence and end in the garden of a property.
A foot pursuit followed in which Holliday was detained, but he clenched his fists and tried to prevent the officers from applying handcuffs.
Miss Buck told the court he has, “an extraordinary record” of driving offending among 22 previous convictions for 65 offences, dating from January 2003.
She said those convictions include past offences of dangerous driving, several for driving while disqualified and others for assaulting police officers.
“In this case he was carrying a passenger, damaging property and it was aggravated by his horrendous driving history,” added Miss Buck.
The 34-year-old defendant, of Stanley Way, Billy Row, near Crook, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, plus resisting arrest.
Holliday appeared via video link from Durham Prison as he was jailed for 16 weeks by magistrates for other motoring offences committed five days before the latest incident.
Mark Styles, in mitigation, said the recent offending came at a time when the defendant had managed to get into, “gainful employment”.
“He got a job through an agency driving a telehandler off-road and he was saving for a mortgage.
“I appreciate he has an appalling driving record, but he was let down by a driver and so got behind the wheel himself and drove.
“He had applied for a licence and was hoping to take the necessary test and was working towards the theory part of that test, but all of that has dissipated due to his stupidity.
“Fortunately, no-one was injured in this incident.”
But Mr Styles added that. in due course: “His hope is to get back into gainful employment and provide for his family and to get his own home.”
Judge Jo Kidd said there were “deeply-aggravating features” of the defendant’s latest driving offences.
Read more: Businessman driving BMW M3 led police on car chase from Durham to Washington
“There was a police chase, the length of the driving and the fact it took place in the afternoon through a town centre, in residential areas and caused two pedestrians, including an elderly lady, to have to take action to prevent being killed.
“It was, quite frankly, miraculous that no-one was seriously hurt or that you weren’t subject of a multi-vehicle collision.”
Judge Kidd told the court that on arrest Holliday was said to have asked the police officers: “Any chance of getting rid of the dangerous driving?”
She described those comments as, “very optimistic”.
Judge Kidd told Holliday: “You have a thoroughly awful record for driving matters and were subject of a 45-month disqualification from 2019 at the time of these offences.”
She added that there appears to be no deterrent to persuade the defendant not to get behind the wheel of vehicles, despite the various court orders to which he is subject.
Imposing an 18-month prison sentence she also made Holliday subject of a further 45-month driving disqualification.
Read next:
Disqualified County Durham BMW driver crashes during police chase
Teenage Durham dangerous driver given six months to stay out of trouble
Driver in County Durham police chase swerved to avoid bin wagon
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel