Jail for driver who turned over new leaf

A FORMER prolific motoring offender who turned his life around to keep on the straight and narrow, ruined his progress with one incident of bad driving.

Daniel McCoubrie, 29, of Hunters Square, Dagenham, had not committed a car crime for seven years when he sped away from police and led them on a three-mile chase in December, 2007.

Eventually, he overturned the car in Basildon and was arrested, and was later found found to be over the legal alcohol limit.

At Basildon Crown Court in September, McCoubrie was jailed for 18 months after admitting dangerous driving and excess alcohol.

He appeal against the length of the sentence on January 23, but had his case rejected by judges, Mr Justice Pitchford, and Mr Justice Roderick Evans.

McCoubrie's barrister, Chris Whitehouse, told the court how McCoubrie, up to the age of 21, had had no respect for motoring laws, and committed numerous offences.

But in the seven years preceding the incident, he had not committed a single vehicle crime, and had turned his life around. He had found stable employment, and a steady relationship.

He admitted the dangerous driving offence on the basis that he had been assaulted in a nightclub, and had panicked, speeding away to avoid any more trouble.

The court heard that McCoubrie had driven straight over a roundabout, overtaken cars on the wrong side of the road, and reached speeds of more than 100mph in the town.

Mr Whitehouse argued that the change in his lifestyle over the years before the incident justified reducing his sentence from the 18 months imposed.

After considering McCoubrie's history and reading references, Mr Justice Roderick Evans said: "We have considered Mr Whitehouse's submissions.

"But having done so, we have come to the conclusion that we cannot properly say that the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive, and therefore this appeal has to be dismissed.