A MOTORIST who sped along the A14 at more than 110 miles per hour before crashing into a road sign has been jailed for 21 months.

Jane Hunt

A MOTORIST who sped along the A14 at more than 110 miles per hour before crashing into a road sign has been jailed for 21 months.

Thomas Tyson, 47, of Kent Road, Stowmarket, had denied dangerous driving, claiming he wasn't behind the wheel, but was found guilty by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court in May.

At yesterday's sentencing Judge David Goodin said the dangerous driving was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. “It was extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured,” said the judge.

Tyson was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for two years for the dangerous driving. He admitted five offences of shop lifting, failing to surrender to custody and obstructing a police officer, and was sentenced to a further three months imprisonment to run consecutively.

He further admitted an offence of common assault on his former partner and was jailed for a further three months to run consecutively making a total of 21 months less 86 days he has already spent in custody.

During the trial the court heard that police tried to stop a Mercedes driven by Tyson after seeing it travelling on the B1113 out of Needham Market towards Stowmarket in the early hours of the morning without displaying any lights.

The officers gave chase and at one stage the car pulled into a service road and someone was seen to get out of the front passenger door while the car was still moving.

The car then drove off at speeds of up to 80 mph in a 60 mph limit and was seen to go over a red traffic light on the outskirts of Stowmarket before heading towards the A14.

On the A14 the car headed towards Ipswich and increased its speed and officers abandoned the chase at a speed of 110mph in bad weather conditions.

The officers then came across the car which had come to a halt at the Beacon Hill Interchange at the junction with the A140 after hitting road signs.

Tyson was arrested nearby but denied driving the Mercedes and claimed he had been a passenger in the vehicle.

The court heard that the offence of common assault related to an incident when Tyson jammed a window shut on his former partner's fingers during an argument.