April 6, 2018 11.29 am This story is over 71 months old

Drunk driver of stolen car rammed van in attempt to escape police

She has been jailed after she was caught and boxed in by police.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A drunk driver who mounted the pavement and sped off in a stolen Jaguar after she was boxed in by police has been jailed for ten months.

Sarah Dixon, 35, caused two police officers to move out of the way after she shunted another van to escape up the road.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Dixon, from Eastwood, Notts, was pulled over on Somerby Hill in Grantham at 6.30am after she nearly collided with a moped and an oncoming police car.

Mark Watson, prosecuting, said police were already looking for the Jaguar car being driven by Dixon after it was reported stolen in Derbyshire.

Mr Watson said Dixon appeared to accelerate away when she was noticed by police but eventually pulled over and was boxed in by the officers and another van.

Dixon was obsereved to be “drowsy” with her head nearly slumped over the wheel and could be seen fiddling with the gear stick.

Officers used their batons to try and smash the driver’s side window but Dixon managed to get the car in to gear and mounted the pavement after shunting the van which was parked in front of her.

The court heard officers found the Jaguar abandoned in a nearby industrial estate and Dixon was caught after she was tracked by a police dog.

On her arrest Dixon admitted: “I don’t know why I did it, I was stupid.”

Dixon appeared drunk but failed to give a specimen when she was taken to a police station.

In mitigation the court was told Dixon had a long-standing heroin addiction and had returned to using the drug after she left the Skegness area because she was in fear of someone.

Dixon, of Nottingham Road, Eastwood, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without an insurance or licence and failing to provide a specimen after she was stopped on 9 March this year.

She was jailed for ten months, banned from driving for 12 months and must take an extended driving test.

Passing sentence Judge Andrew Easteal told Dixon he accepted that she did not intend to harm the two police officers but said it was clear that she was drunk.

The judge said: “You were a danger to them, yourself and anyone who had been on the pavement.”