A man who led traffic police on an hour-long chase through the streets of Ipswich is facing a jail sentence and the loss of his right to a cheap deal from a young driver car insurance firm after magistrates slammed his behaviour.
22-year-old Dean Byrne caused havoc when he hurtled along busy roads at more than 60mph in a silver BMW, sending other drivers swerving out of the way in panic and narrowly avoiding causing several potentially deadly road accidents.
The Sunday lunchtime chase only came to an end when Byrne took a wrong turning and found himself cornered in a cul-de-sac. He attempted to flee on foot but officers managed to catch him and he was promptly arrested. A search of his car later discovered a small amount of cannabis stashed in the glove box.
South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard how the youngster was already banned from the road and had five previous disqualifications and a horrendous criminal record consisting of various traffic and drug offences.
Pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop when required to by an officer, possession of cannabis and having no motor insurance, Byrne was told he would be sentenced by Ipswich Crown Court at a later date. He was, however, remanded in custody and told to expect a prison sentence.
A spokesman for Hoot Car Insurance Services, the young driver car insurance providers, commented, "Drivers like this are best kept off the road, and prison seems like a good idea for this young man."