Driver who raced down Dagenham Heathway at 70mph is jailed
Bradley Thomas was jailed for 10 months Picture: John Stillwell/PA - Credit: PA WIRE
An uninsured driver who raced at speeds of up to 70mph after being pursued by police has been jailed for 10 months.
Builder Bradley Thomas, 29, sped off when police spotted his Mazda 6 at green traffic lights on Dagenham Heathway.
He bounced over speed bumps and tore past other cars during the late night chase at more than twice the speed limit.
Thomas ignored the blue lights and sirens of the police cars which chased him along Wood Lane into Rowlands Road and along Becontree Avenue.
Officers deployed the Stinger device on the High Road in Seven Kings which bought the car grinding to a halt in a shower of sparks.
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Thomas admitted dangerous driving, driving without insurance and possession of a small amount of cannabis at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday.
Andrea Becker, defending Thomas, asked for him to be given a suspended sentence but admitted: “It is lucky that nobody was injured or hurt or indeed killed”.
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Judge Alastair Hammerton said: “It was fortunate that no serious accident resulted from your dangerous driving.
“Your barrister has described the driving as being horrendous and I agree with that categorisation.
“This is a case where the courts have to send out a message to people like you that sustained examples of bad driving will not be tolerated.’
Thomas, of Hilldene Avenue, Romford, was jailed for 10 months for dangerous driving and handed a concurrent one month term for possession of cannabis on February 29.
He was also banned from driving for one year and ordered to undertake an extended driving test when that expires.
An order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs was ordered and no separate penalty was imposed for driving without insurance.
