See how 'maniac' driver raced from police at 80mph in a 30mph limit after getting behind the wheel while high on cocaine

David Atkinson, 24, was already banned from the roads when he bought a Volvo in an act of 'lunacy' and got behind the wheel while high on cocaine.

When police tried to pull him over in Sunderland, he put his foot down in a desperate bid to escape, travelling at around 80mph in residential areas and creating such a high level of peril, police had to pull out of the pursuit twice.

At Newcastle Crown Court Atkinson, of Jacques Street, Pallion, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving under the influence of drugs, failing to stop, no insurance and possessing class A drugs.

Judge Julie Clemitson jailed him for 14 months and described him driving like a ‘maniac’, adding it was ‘fortunate you didn't seriously hurt or kill another road user or, indeed, yourself’.

The judge told him: "You drove at ridiculous speeds, up to 80mph in a 30 limit.

"This pursuit lasted more than 18 minutes, it was dark and there were other road users and vehicles put at risk by you.

"It was extremely dangerous and you are fortunate you didn't seriously hurt or kill another road user or, indeed, yourself.

"You had drugs in your system while you were driving like a maniac."

Prosecutor Liam O'Brien told the court it was just after midnight on January 11 that police saw Atkinson driving a Volvo V70 and decided to follow.

Atkinson sped up then refused to stop when indicated to do so.

Mr O'Brien told the court: "For a period of nearly 20 minutes, he drove in an appallingly dangerous manner.

"He drove at well in excess of the speed limit and was doing around 80mph in a 30 zone in residential estates.

"He drove straight through a series of red traffic lights, nearly colliding with several other vehicles and drove on the wrong side of the carriageway.

"The driving was so dangerous, on two occasions the police deemed it necessary to abandon the pursuit.

"He only stopped after a stinger was deployed and knocked out three of his tyres but even then he continued to drove for some time on the southbound carriageway of the A19, before coming to a stop."

Atkinson tried to throw away two bags of cocaine before he was arrested and was found to be over the limit for the drug.

The court heard he has nine previous convictions, including for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no insurance, in December 2018.

Nick Peacock, defending, told the court: "It's an appalling piece of driving, the defendant can't get around that at all.

"He can offer no explanation why, being a disqualified driver, he decided to purchase a motor vehicle. It just seems utter lunacy and he accepts that.

"He struggles with maturity but there's some hope this man will start complying."

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Sunderland Echo website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.