Police lay stinger device after Sunderland teenager sparks car chase
A Sunderland teenager who sparked a police chase that only ended when his tyres were deliberately punctured on a 70mph dual carriageway has been banned from driving.
Lincoln Coxon, 19, was stopped in his tracks by officers who laid a stinger device across the A19 near Hartlepool at around 1.25am on Monday, October 13, a court heard.
Moments before, Coxon, of Pancras Road, Plains Farm, had motored a Vauxhall van at 60mph through 20mph Elwick Village, prosecutor Glenda Beck said.
It was a manoeuvre District Judge Zoe Passfield said fell just short of amounting to dangerous driving and was instead careless in law.
Coxon later told police at the roadside he had fled due to being uninsured and unlicensed but refused to comment during a later interview.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he admitted charges of driving without due care and attention and failing to stop for police.
He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving without a licence and failing to surrender to custody at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 29.
Mrs Beck said: “Police conducted an area search for a Vauxhall Viraro van for unrelated matters.
“Officers saw the van being driven by the defendant. There was no licence on the vehicle and no insurance.
“He failed to stop when officers indicated for him to do so by their lights and sirens.
“He went on Dunston Road and then into Elwick Road. He then drove at 60mph in Elwick Village, which is 20mph.
“The defendant continued onto the A19 where a stinger device was deployed. He was then detained by officers.
“He didn’t have insurance or a licence and made admission. There are no previous convictions or cautions.
“The careless driving is given the 60mph in a 20mph area. This is high culpability. It’s seven to nine penalty points or a disqualification.”
Alastair Naismith, defending, said Coxon should be given credit for stopping the van when some drivers may have continued to try to escape even after having their tyres punctured.
He added: “It is clearly high culpability because of the other offences.
“There’s not really any explanation. He made off in the van because he knew that he shouldn’t have been driving.
“He made admissions at the roadside. In custody, it was a no comment interview.
“He accepts that he’s likely to be disqualified from driving, given his actions.”
Judge Passfield banned Coxon from the roads for a year and warned him he would be jailed if caught driving during that period.
She told him: “This was almost dangerous driving, not careless.
“It’s made more serious because you had no licence and no insurance, and you failed to stop for police.
“If you drive while you are disqualified, you can expect an immediate custodial sentence.”
The judge also fined Coxon £180 for the careless driving offence and £40 for failing to surrender to custody and ordered him to pay an £88 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.