A teenage driver who was banned from the roads rammed into two police cars as he tried to evade capture during a high-speed rampage through three villages.
Bill Nicholson hit speeds in excess of 80 mph as he raced through Ranby, Barnby Moor and Blyth with two passengers on board.
In a hair-raising display of dangerous driving lasting six minutes, the 18-year-old drove around a blind bend on the wrong side of the road, sped through a red light, took a roundabout the wrong way and nearly slammed into a pedestrian.
The disqualified driver also rammed into two police cars, causing significant damage to both vehicles.
Nicholson was finally brought to a halt when the two police cars managed to box him in along the A634 in Blyth.
Anxious to avoid arrest, he jumped into the back seat to give the impression he was a passenger and that the driver had fled. But officers saw his deceitful manoeuvre, which was also captured on police dash-cam footage.
He was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at Nottingham Crown Court and was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and banned from driving for 15 months.
A judge also ordered him to complete a thinking skills programme and 20 rehabilitation days.
Nicholson, of Chichester Walk, Carlton-in-Lindrick, was also made subject of a three-month tagged curfew order.
The late-night chase on 15 September 2021 started along Old London Road in Ranby when officers saw a silver Toyota Avensis which they suspected was being driven on cloned plates.
He then sped through Barnby Moor and into Blyth, where police tactically managed to end the chase by boxing in the car.
PC James McClintock, of Nottinghamshire’s road crime team, was one of the pursuing officers. He said Nicholson had shown a blatant disregard for the safety of all involved.
“This was, without doubt, the worst standard of driving I’ve ever witnessed in my 17 years as a police officer,” PC McClintock said.
“Nicholson took many, many risks driving how he did and travelling at such speeds and it is was pure luck that no-one was hurt. I am just thankful this was late at night when the roads were slightly quieter.
“It was definitely a relief when we got to stop him as he was showing a complete disregard for us and the road and I’m pleased he’s now been dealt with by the courts.
“It’s a reminder to anyone who tries to escape officers that we are highly trained tactical pursuit drivers and when there’s a team of us following them its only a matter of time before their luck runs out.”
