Driver reached 110mph in stolen car and rammed police on Yorkshire road during drunken 'lockdown blowout'

A driver reached 110mph during a police chase in a stolen car after a drunken 'blow-out' during lockdown.
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Michael Tennant caused almost £30,000 worth of damage as he deliberately rammed two police cars during the high-speed chase through Pontefract.

A judge described the incident on May 4 this year as "as bad a case of dangerous driving as it is possible to imagine."

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Officers spotted Tennant in a blue Peugeot 208 at 1,15am and signalled for him to pull over.

Michael Tennant drove at 110mph and rammed police cars during dangerous car chase through PontefractMichael Tennant drove at 110mph and rammed police cars during dangerous car chase through Pontefract
Michael Tennant drove at 110mph and rammed police cars during dangerous car chase through Pontefract

Earlier the previous day the driver of the car had failed to stop for police in Huddersfield.

Tennant sped off along Wakefield Road and police dashcam footage recorded him reaching 110mph in a 30mph area.

Leeds Crown Court heard John Eastman was a front seat passenger in the stolen vehicle.

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Frances Pencheon said Tennant braked suddenly during the pursuit, causing two police cars to swerve to avoid a collision.

One officer got out of his vehicle and tried to break the window of the Peugeot with his baton in a bid to arrest the driver.

Tennant then put the car into reverse and rammed the police cars.

Both men were arrested at the scene.

Eastman struggled as he was being handcuffed, causing one of the officers to suffer a broken finger.

All three cars were badly damaged during the incident.

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Over £20,000 worth of damage was caused to one of the police vehicles.

Tennant, 39, of Primrose Grove, Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

He was jailed for 18 months.

The court heard he has previous convictions for more than 100 offences.

Eastman pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and was jailed for six months.

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He has a long criminal record for offences including burglary.

Lawyers for both men said the incident happened after the pair defied the lockdown restrictions and decided to have a 'blow out'.

Richard Canning, for Tennant, said: "This was a crazy evening during lockdown.

"He had a blow out which he should not have done and he panicked. He knows that prison must follow."

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Eddison Flint, for Eastman, said his client pleaded guilty at an early stage.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC said: "You drove extremely badly at ludicrously excessive speeds.

"You tried to ram your way out.

"This is about as bad a case of dangerous driving as it is possible to imagine."