Sunderland danger driver jumped in back seat of moving car after racing from cops while over limit

Ryan Cowley, who was almost three times the drink-drive limit, had gone through red lights, travelled at speed and narrowly missed other vehicles in a bid to get away.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard when officers remained on his tail, the 30-year-old decided to pretend he had been a passenger in the Ford Focus and climbed into the back seat.

The court heard the car kept rolling along Crown Road in Sunderland until the front seat passenger applied the handbrake and brought the vehicle to a stop.

Cowley told police at the scene he "wasn't the driver" but later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

Prosecutor Claire Anderson told the court Cowley had gone into the Tesco store at Roker Retail Park in the city and stolen bottles of gin and whiskey on March 14 last year.

The court heard a worker at the store saw him drive away and reported to the police he seemed drunk.

Officers quickly found Cowley's car, illuminated lights and sirens, then followed him as he drove dangerously through Kier Hardy Way, over the Queen Alexandra Bridge and onto the A1231 and residential areas.

Miss Anderson said: "The car drove onto Crown Road and the defendant was seen to jump from the driver's seat into the offside rear passenger seat.

"The Focus continued to roll forward with no-one in control of the vehicle."

Cowley, of Plantation Road, Sunderland, admitted theft as well as the driving offences.

Judge Robert Spragg sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months with rehabilitation requirements and 100 hours unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for 30 months.

Judge Spragg told him: "You went through red lights, forced your way through traffic, failed to stop, went through another red light, narrowly missing another car.

"You drove at 50mph in a 30mph area.

"Before stopping, you jumped in the back as the car continued to roll forward and the passenger had to apply the handbrake."

Vic Laffey, defending, said: "Thankfully there was no damage or injury caused.

"It was a fairly short-lived incident."

Mr Laffey said Cowley has family responsibilities, is capable of staying out of trouble for long periods and is in employment.

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