August 7, 2017 3.54 pm This story is over 79 months old

Uninsured driver with 37 previous convictions jailed after mounting pavement in Lincoln police chase

He drove at twice the speed limit through the estate.
Brett Clayton has been jailed for 15 months. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

An uninsured motorist reached 60 mph as he drove through the north of Lincoln attempting to evade pursuing police officers, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Brett Clayton, who only held a provisional driving licence, was spotted by an officer as he drove along Newport in the city on May 12.

Leanne Summers, prosecuting, said “The officer decided to stop the defendant to check whether he had insurance in place.

“He followed the defendant along Newport and illuminated his blue lights requesting the defendant to pull in.

“The defendant accelerated away and there was a pursuit through the heavily populated area in the north of Lincoln and onto the Ermine Estate.

“At one point the defendant mounted the pavement to pass through roadworks and avoid a line of waiting traffic. Eventually he drove into a cul-de-sac and there was no escape for him.”

Clayton finished up in Allandale Close, Ermine West, and was arrested.

Miss Summers said: “When he was interviewed by officers he said the police tried to stop him and he didn’t want to stop. so he drove off.”

The court was told that Clayton had 37 previous convictions for 87 offences including “numerous” driving matters.

Clayton, 35, of Manby Street, Lincoln, admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with his licence. He also admitted breach of a suspended jail sentence imposed at the Crown Court in May 2015.

Noel Philo, in mitigation, admitted that Clayton had a “dreadful record” of previous offending but said he had stayed out of trouble for almost the entire two years his earlier jail sentence was suspended for.

Mr Philo said “Prior to this lapse he had been doing extremely well.

“He has a job and he has a new partner.”

Clayton was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for two years and seven months.

Judge Simon Hirst, passing sentence, told him “The police officer decided to stop you no doubt suspecting you didn’t have any insurance as you didn’t. Your response to that was to accelerate away at speeds up to 60 mph in a 30 mph zone.

“It is aggravated because you have a truly horrendous record.

“This is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be passed.”