A dangerous, unlicensed and uninsured driver who drove at speeds of up to 80mph in residential areas has been warned to expect a prison sentence if he offends again.
Jack Clifford, 22, led police on two high-speed chases in the space of ten days, reaching speeds of up to 80mph in a 30mph limit, driving on the wrong side of the road, overtaking multiple cars at once, and swerving dangerously to avoid oncoming cars.
Clifford, of Colston Bassett, was first spotted by an unmarked police car on Wednesday 6 May near the village of Aslockton.
After recognising the officers inside, he immediately accelerated away, driving his blue Peugeot 106 straight through a junction of the A52 – narrowly missing an oncoming lorry.
He then headed west along the A52, before pulling off at high speed into Granby Lane, where he immediately performed a 180 degree handbrake turn and pulled back out, unsighted, onto the eastbound carriageway.
Clifford fled from police again when they attempted to pull him over in Costock Lane, East Leake, at around 12.45 on Saturday May 16.
He led officers on a high speed pursuit around the area, reaching speeds of up to 80 mph in a 30 mph limit, driving on the wrong side of the road and overtaking three cars at once. He finally disappeared from view by driving at high speed along a heavily rutted dirt track.
Clifford was finally arrested on Sunday May 17 when keen-eyed officers spotted him travelling as a passenger in another vehicle in Flawforth Lane, Ruddington.
After a search by officers he was also found to be in possession of cannabis.
Clifford, who’d been on remand since 17 May, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, 24 June. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of cannabis, and was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
PC John Lindsey, one of the pursuing officers, said: “Clifford was responsible for some of the most reckless, dangerous driving I have ever seen. On two occasions he led police on high speed pursuits and was lucky not to cause serious injury to himself or other road users.
“This kind of driving is totally unacceptable and we will always do whatever we can to bring people like this to justice. There are, however, times when we have to consider the safety of other road users and call off pursuits. I am pleased that Clifford has now been brought to justice.”
