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Gloucestershire Business News

Teenager sentenced for dangerous driving

An 'immature' 19 year old Brockworth man bought a car to show off to his mates - even though he had not passed a test or bought insurance - and then led police on a high speed chase while under the influence of hard drugs, a court heard today (2 November).

Michael Twomey of Lea Road, Brockworth, pleaded guilty at Gloucester crown court to dangerous driving on 18th June when he was pursued through residential streets in the small hours of the morning.

Twomey was going so fast over speed bumps that his rear wheels left the ground at one stage, the court was told.

Judge Michael Cullum sitting at Gloucester crown court imposed a ten month jail term on Twomey but suspended it for twelve months.

Prosecutor, Alistair Haggerty, said Twomey was spotted by officers at 1.15am parked up with a passenger, who later turned out to be 17 years old, on the corner of Sawyers Crescent and Vicarage Lane in Brockworth.

As the officers stopped to talk to Twomey, he sped off, and the court was shown dashcam footage of his driving as he reached speeds of 65mph in 30mph zones.

Twomey drove towards Ermin Street, before moving onto Moorfield Road, Mill Lane, Shurdington Road, Painswick Road, Tone Drive, Wye Road, Avon Crescent and Humber Place, where he crashed when the officers blocked him in and ended the pursuit.

During the chase, Twomey drove the wrong way around a roundabout, went through a red light on a single lane bridge, contravened a no right turn sign, before mounting the kerb, puncturing his wheel, and eventually coming to a halt.

There were cars parked on both sides of the narrow residential streets that Twomey travelled at 65mph through, the prosecutor highlighted and added: "If anything had been coming on the red light it would have been a serious collision."

Mr Haggerty described the conditions as 'greasy and slippery'.

When Twomey was arrested he was found to have cocaine in his system.

As well as dangerous driving, Twomey admitted driving under the influence of drugs, having no licence and no insurance.

The prosecutor summed up the aggravating features as 'persistent ignorance of road and traffic signals, whilst under the influence of drugs'.

Representing Twomey, John Lynch said his client had bought the car for £300 to 'impress friends'.

He said that a probation report described his client as an 'immature 19 year old'.

"That is exactly what he is," Mr Lynch said, "For someone with no adult convictions, it is worrying he had put himself in this position before the crown court.

"There is genuine remorse for this offence," he added.

Dealing with the cocaine in Twomey's system the lawyer said: "He took cocaine the previous day.

"It can stay in the system for longer than people realise."

Explaining why Twomey chose to make off from the police he said: "He did not stop because he was scared.

"If he had stopped he would have found himself in a much less serious position.

"This case by far crosses the custody threshold," Mr Lynch conceded. "It is a matter for Your Honour can it be suspended."

"He is an immature 19 year old, no previous convictions and genuine remorse.

"This is the shock he needs not to come before the courts again.

"He is petrified of going in to custody this morning, and realises through the stupidity of his actions, that is a possibility," the lawyer concluded.

Imposing the suspended jail term Judge Cullum said it was a 'raft of serious offences'.

"You are not a young man of good character but have no previous adult convictions, and you pleaded guilty at earliest opportunity."

Referring to the dashcam footage, he said: "Although it was difficult to see properly, it is quite clear you had no regard for the safety of yourself, which matters little, your juvenile passenger, the police officers or anybody that could have been walking around on those darkened lanes.

"I am quite satisfied that it is just good fortune that you are before the court for a much more serious tragic charge.

"There were times when you could not have seen what was coming the other way," the judge told him.

"You made a decision," he continued. "To take cocaine and drive when you should not have done. You did not care you were not insured or holding a licence.

"You bought a car to show off, and when police started to follow you, you kept going.

"You chose to drive at speed, drive when the vehicle was damaged, in as bad a way as is possible."

The judge told him: "You have sent yourself to custody, but I am going to suspend it.

"There will be a significant raft of additional penalties.

"If you breach any of the terms you will go to custody, and if you reoffend you will go to custody."

As part of the suspended sentence the judge ordered Twomey to attend ten rehabilitation activity sessions, and to abide by a curfew for three months between 7pm to 5am every day.

"That is a significant restriction of your liberty," the judge said. "When you are fed up with that curfew over Christmas you must remember you were jolly lucky today not to go to prison."

"You drove totally lawlessly. You were a menace to society that night."

The judge reserved any breaches to himself and warned Twomey: "I will remember how close you came to custody today.

"The option is entirely yours - One false step and expect it to be activated."

Twomey was disqualified for two years and ordered to sit an extended driving test.

He was also ordered to pay a contribution to court costs of £250 at a rate of £50 per month.

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