Sunderland danger driver crashed into fence in stolen car during police chase after late-night trip to KFC

A danger driver ignored police sirens during a chase which only ended when his stolen car collided with a garden fence.
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The court heard that Bradley Finn made off from officers in the early hours of July 1 after they were contacted by staff at a local KFC restaurant who were concerned he had been drinking.

Police later discovered that Finn, of Skipsea View, Sunderland, was banned from the roads at the time, had no insurance to his name, and the Volkswagon Polo he was driving was stolen.

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Prosecutor Michael Cahill told Newcastle Crown Court: "The complainant awoke in the morning and her Polo motor vehicle had been taken to the value of £1,000.

Bradley FinnBradley Finn
Bradley Finn

"That night staff at the KFC in Pennywell contacted police concerned with someone who was perhaps drinking.

"Officers attended the area and spotted the Polo approaching them so police turned around to follow the vehicle but then he began to make off."

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the police activated their sirens and followed the Polo for about ten minutes and the pursuit developed into a high-speed chase.

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Mr Cahill added: "He lost control of the vehicle and it hit a garden fence.

"The defendant climbed to the passenger side to get out of the vehicle and soon gave himself up after trying to make off."

The 22-year-old, who has ten past convictions for 36 offences, has history of driving charges.

In April 2017, he also received 40 months in a youth offenders institution after being convicted of robbery, and has six previous driving whilst disqualified offences.

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Finn was still on license for the robbery and wasn't due to come off it until November 2020.

He pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and going equipped for burglary, and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Passing down the sentence, Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford said: "You drove up to speeds of 50mph in an area that was only 20-30mph.

"The potential for accident was very great, and you ran red lights for most of the pursuit and had your lights switched off.

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"There were three people in the vehicle - you, a further male and one female, after you bought the Polo for £50 knowing it was stolen.

"You have had some difficulty of your own but attempts to assist and help you have bot been accepted."

Mitigating, Jason Smith said: "He's a young man who has spent the majority of his latter formative years in a custodial presence.

"He borrowed a small amount of money and drove the vehicle, and he accepted throughout his interview that he was the driver and wasn't entitled to drive because he was disqualified.

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"He panicked when police put on their lights - it was a late night chase with nothing else about on the road.

"There was low risk other than those involved in the road vehicle at the time."

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