Drunken County Durham man crashed ex-partner's car into van

Kieron Lucas’ driving was described as some of the worst police officers had seen when he collided head-on with a van while speeding around the town when he was heavily intoxicated.

The 24-year-old was told he was lucky not to be facing more serious charges as a result of his behaviour earlier this year.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Lucas turned up at his ex-partner’s County Durham home asking for money and his shoes before becoming increasingly aggressive and argumentative.

Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said the father of two was caught on CCTV shouting in the woman’s house before saying ‘If you want a war, you can have a war’.

He said while this was going on the woman could be heard pleading with him to not take her car as he was so inebriated after he threatened to smash all of her windows.

“She says ‘Are you really going to take my car? Will you pick that over the kids’,” he added.

Mr Lonsdale said the car was driven at speeds in excess of 65mph in a 30 zone before colliding with one car and then smashing head-on into a white Transit van after police spotted him in the area.

He said: “The officers described the driving as some of the worst they had ever seen.”

The court heard how the defendant crashed the Ford Kuga on Pemberton Bank, Easington Lane.

Kieron Lucas (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Lucas, of Front Street, South Hetton, County Durham, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, and driving without insurance, following the events of September 13.

Calum McNicholas, mitigating, urged the judge to spare his client from an immediate custodial sentence after accepting full responsibility for his actions.

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He added: “It has been a shock to him being in prison since September and it has been a chastening experience.”

Judge Stephen Ashurst told Lucas that his offending was so serious that an immediate 18-month sentence was the only option available to him.

He added: “The risk you created to members of the public, in fact due to the injuries caused to an innocent man, I would be failing in my public duty if I didn’t impose an immediate prison sentence.”

Lucas was banned from driving for three years and nine months and ordered to sit an extended driving test before taking to the roads again.