Banned driver raced at twice the speed limit on Sunderland streets to get away from cops

Cameron Healer, who was already banned from the roads, refused to stop the Renault Clio he was driving when police activated blue lights and sirens in a bid to pull him over in Sunderland at round midnight on May 11.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 20-year-old, who had "several male passengers" in the vehicle, sped off at 40mph in a 20 zone and onto Hylton Road and Springwell Road then the A690.

Prosecutor Penny Hall told the court Healer went through a red light and straddled both lanes on a single carriageway on the Queen Alexandra Road then went the wrong way around a roundabout.

The court heard he travelled at 60mph in a 30 zone, with three police vehicles in pursuit before he braked suddenly and pulled over.

His passengers ran off from the scene but Healer was detained and arrested.

Miss Hall told the court one of the officers involved in the pursuit said in his statement: "He drove through red lights and around the wrong side of a roundabout, all the while exceeding the speed limit.

"Even though this was at night time and there were a low number of other road users, it could have caused an accident."

The court heard at the time of the offences Healer was on post-licence supervision from a previous prison sentence for unrelated offending.

Healer, of Thistle Road, Sunderland, who has previous convictions for driving offences, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to six months behind bars with a 15 month road ban.

The judge told him: "This was an appalling piece of driving, with disregard for safety.

"There was a high risk to yourself, your passengers, the police and other road users."

The judge said although no damage or harm was caused, that could have been down to "more luck than judgement".

Nick Peacock, defending, said Healer is "incredibly remorseful now", has a job offer and is due to become a father for the first time in February.

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