Derbyshire man jailed after leading police on 100mph chase in stolen Land Rover

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Gary Smart eventually crashed the vehicle - which had been stolen from the Wirksworth area - in a front garden, and tried to escape on foot before he was arrested.

The 37-year-old hit speeds of between 90 and 100mph in the chase, which took place on January 10 this year.

He had admitted driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and driving with no insurance when he appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on January 12, where he was remanded in custody.

Yesterday he appeared before Nottingham Crown Court where he also admitted handling stolen goods, and was produced today via videolink to be sentenced.

Prosecuting, Eunice Opare-Addo said that police were alerted to the vehicle’s location when it triggered a camera in the Long Eaton area hours after it had been reported stolen.

She said: “The vehicle was followed along Tamworth Road and at that point it was being driven at a normal speed. It came to a stop and the officer drove his vehicle to block it.

“He approached the defendant and told him to get out of the vehicle, but he reversed it, driving on the pavement to get away and the pursuit lasted for around eight minutes.”

The court heard that Smart, 37, of Crowcroft Way, Long Eaton, had 21 convictions for 40 previous offences, and a photograph of a similar vehicle was found on his phone.

Mitigating, Emma Hodgson told the court: “He did have some suspicion that the vehicle was not being sold legitimately, but it was purchased for him and his partner to use as a family vehicle.

“He appreciates that his driving could have caused harm to members of the public, and he provided details of the person he bought the vehicle from.”

Recorder Charles Falk sentenced Smart to 51 weeks in prison and banned him from driving for a further 18 months.

“When you got hold of that car it was a hot car and that vehicle was clearly targeted,” he said.

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