Ipswich: Boozed-up 100mph motorist jailed after “most dangerous driving ever seen” on A14
IPSWICH: A drink driver who drove at 100mph along the A14 while being chased by police has been jailed for three years.
A policeman who was involved in the early-morning pursuit later described John Smith’s driving as the most dangerous he had ever seen, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
The police chase began after Smith took a car which had been left with its engine running outside a house in West Meadows, Ipswich, while the owner went back to check her door was closed, on January 19, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.
Smith drove off along the A14 and was seen by police who noticed he was driving too fast.
Officers went to the offside of the vehicle and activated the siren on their car to get Smith to stop but he sped off, reaching 100mph.
At one stage the outside lane was blocked by a lorry overtaking another vehicle and, finding he could not get past, Smith drove along the near-side verge before pulling out in front of the lorry when it had returned to the near-side lane.
The car was seen weaving around the road before Smith braked in the outside lane and tried to get out of the car as it was still moving. However, the car crashed into the central reservation and Smith had been unable to get out because the door was jammed shut, said Mr Crimp.
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A breath test showed Smith was two-and-a-half times the permitted drink drive limit.
Smith, 26, who was living at West Meadows, Ipswich, admitted taking a vehicle without consent, drink driving, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, burglary at Clarice House health centre and asked for 12 offences to be considered.
He was jailed for three years and banned from driving for three years.
Sentencing Smith, Recorder Andrew Hurst said one of the officers involved in the chase along the A14 described Smith’s driving as the most dangerous he had ever seen.
Neil Saunders, for Smith, said his client had admitted the burglary at Clarice House and the offences to be considered to police so that he could make a clean start when he was released from prison. He said all the offences were related to Smith’s drink problem.
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