8:40pm Friday 12th March 2010
By Wendy Barlow
A DAD-TO-BE who led police on an 11-mile chase in heavy rain while almost twice the drink-drive limit is behind bars for a year.
Burnley Crown Court heard how speeding Dwayne Baxendale, 19, who had not passed his driving test and had only had four lessons, was said to have panicked when he realised he was being followed in the early hours, last November.
In the pursuit that followed, Baxendale:
l Went though red traffic lights.
l Aquaplaned twice on the M65, did a 360 degree turn and hit the central reservation.
l Drove over a police stinger device and carried on until one of his front tyres fell off.
l Went through a red light light at 50mph in a 30mph zone.
The uninsured defendant’s antics in his £300 car were caught on police camera, and Judge Beverley Lunt was able to watch them in court.
Baxendale, of Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, admitted dangerous driving, excess alcohol, no licence and no insurance. He was banned for two years and must take an extended driving test.
Sentencing, the judge slammed his conduct as a sustained piece of bad driving in atrocious road conditions and said others had to be deterred.
The judge, who said she knew of the dangers of the M65 in heavy rain, told the defendant: “You presented a danger to other road users and to the police who were doing their duty trying to stop you. Nothing was going to stop you.”
Baxendale was sent to a Young Offenders’ Institution. Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said a breath test showed the defendant had 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
He was interviewed when sober and accepted his driving had been dangerous.
He told officers he had a provisional licence and did not have insurance even though he owned the car.
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