A BANNED driver has been jailed after he caused a car crash and tried to escape in a witness’s vehicle.
Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how Lyndsay Rhodes was driving a Mazda along Higham Lane, Morton, when a Volkswagen Golf driven by banned driver Jonathan Leonard approached at speed.
A collision took place and both cars spun into a narrow bridge. A Volkswagen Caddy driver stopped at the scene and Golf driver Jonathan Leonard became anxious when the witness mentioned calling police.
Angela Hadfield, prosecuting, said: “Leonard got into the witness’s car and tried to do a three-point-turn at speed. The witness pursued him on foot and the defendant collided with a hedgerow and a ditch and then ran off.”
The incident took place at 1.20pm, last August 9, 2012, and Leonard was tracked down on January 22, 2013, when he drove a Vauxhall Vectra. Police stopped the Vectra in Holmewood and Leonard gave officers the name David Stanley and checks found no trace of that driver.
Mrs Hadfield added: “A search of the vehicle found some paperwork which confirmed his true identity and linked him as wanted for the matter in August.”
Leonard, 28, of Broom Avenue, Pilsley, admitted three charges of driving while disqualified and without insurance, obstructing police, failing to stop and report an accident and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Denney Lau, defending, said there was a low sun and he drove his friend’s car into the middle of the road before the collision. Mr Lau added he wanted to make sure the other driver was fine and he shouted sorry. Leonard has a previous conviction for dangerous driving and was banned from driving unsupervised. Magistrates locked him up for 20 weeks after his latest offences and banned him from driving for two years.
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