Uninsured driver rammed police cars during high speed chase to Coventry

[dutchman]

A court heard career criminal Thomas Johnstone tried to give a false name when stopped, but was recognised by officers

A man who led the police on a ten-mile chase from Leamington to Coventry tried to ram police cars out of the way when he was finally boxed in.

Thomas Johnstone then gave a false name, even though he “would be recognised by any officer in Warwickshire” a judge at Warwick Crown Court was told.

Johnstone, aged 29, of Bostock Crescent, Weston-under-Wetherley, but who previously lived in Lillington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and obstructing a police officer.

He was jailed for 14 months for the driving offence, with a consecutive one-month sentence for obstructing the police, and was banned from driving for three years and seven months.

Prosecutor Michelle Heeley said that on November 26 police officers saw a Vauxhall Astra in Kenilworth Road, Leamington, and recognised Johnstone, who had no licence or insurance, as the driver.

When they indicated for him to stop, he sped away towards Kenilworth before turning onto the A46 dual carriageway and heading towards Coventry.

With other police cars joining the high-speed pursuit, he turned onto the A45 and then off that road as the chase continued to Sky Blue Way and then Walsgrave Road.

He then swerved into Swan Lane where he stopped and reversed at the police car to try to ram it out of the way.

The police thought they had him boxed in, but Johnstone continued revving the engine and trying to ram the police car until he was dragged out of the Astra and arrested.

Having resisted the officers Johnstone, who had a number of previous convictions for offences including dangerous driving, then provided false details by giving his brother’s name.

Miss Heeley added that although no speeds had been given, the chase had covered a distance of about ten miles in just eight minutes – half the journey time estimated by Google Maps.

Jailing Johnstone, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones told him: “You know, you are your own worst enemy in many ways.

“This is such a bad piece of dangerous driving, and particularly in the context of your previous record, that the starting point after a trial would be 21 months.

“You had two passengers you put at risk, you tried to get away from the police, you drove for a very long distance, and when it came to an end, you tried to smash your way out.”