Injured driver lost control of his friend's car during police chase

A driver who had serious injuries to his hands at the time he drove his friend's car during a police chase has been jailed.

A court heard Scott Bowman had his hands heavily bandaged as a result of an off-road motorbiking accident at the time of the incident.

Bowman was spotted at the wheel of a VW Golf in the early hours of June 12 this year by officers on Headlands Lane, Pontefract.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The officers decided to follow the vehicle after Bowman tried to cover his face and sped off.

He lost control of the vehicle as he drive towards Castleford.

Dave Mackay, prosecuting, said Bowman struck a traffic light post and veered across three lanes before crashing into a roundabout near the junction with the M62.

Three wheels were badly damaged and one came completely detached during the incident. Bowman and his friend, who was in the front passenger seat, fled but were caught nearby.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bowman, of Hill Top, Whitwood, Castleford, then told officers he was in possession of small amounts of cocaine and cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possessing a class A and class B drug, driving without a licence and having no insurance.

Bowman has 11 previous driving convictions dating back to 2000, including driving without a licence or insurance and vehicle taking. The court heard the incident happened after Bowman had been for a night out with his friend. His friend got drunk during the evening so Bowman agreed to drive as he was not over the limit. Cara Frith, mitigating, said Bowman had pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage. Judge Penelope Belcher jailed Bowman for six months.

She said: “You appear to have no respect or regard for the reason why you need a driving licence before you can drive a car. You appear to think you can drive a car whenever you feel like it, and this is another example of it.”

Bowman was also banned from driving for 21 months.