A young father from Surrey has been kept in custody after pleading guilty to leading police on a high-speed chase when driving whilst disqualified and having no car insurance.
Aaron Bashford from Smallfied reached speeds of nearly 80mph in his blue Ford Escort as he raced through a quiet village attempting to outrun pursuing police cars. After five minutes of being pursued through the 30mph zone, Bashford abandoned his vehicle and ran through alleyways before police officers finally caught up with him.
During his court hearing it was revealed that the 24-year-old has a long record of offences and was banned from driving in July 2005, and was actually already on bail for driving whilst disqualified and having no motor insurance when police arrested him for his most recent misdemeanour.
Susie Haines, defending, said that Bashford, who lives with a partner and their young children, realised that he had acted irresponsibly, telling the court, "He has an appalling record of offending and has committed a number of offences while on bail. He accepts this."
Denying bail again, Magistrate Penelope Horsfall said, "We are remanding you in custody because you will commit further offences if let out on bail. The offences are very serious and you have offended on bail before. It's likely to be a custodial sentence anyway."
On hearing about Aaron Bashford's case, Mike Page, spokesman for Hoot Car Insurance Services, said, "Now that Mr Bashford has a conviction for a driving offence, he might if find it hard to get a cheap car insurance deal. I think that even specialist firms offering young driver car insurance at great prices will struggle to give him a good price."