Banned driver from Spennymoor seen at the wheel on way to Metrocentre

Brooklyn Knighton was given a 12-month disqualification after admitting dangerous driving and no insurance at court in February last year, which was extended by a further year, in October.

He appeared back at Durham Crown Court, on Friday (January 30), by video link from Holme House Prison, where he has been on remand in recent weeks.

It followed his guilty pleas to offences of driving while disqualified, again with no insurance, when he went before magistrates in Peterlee on January 9.

The case was sent to the crown court for sentence and 19-year-old Knighton, of St Andrew’s Road, Spennymoor, was remanded in custody in the intervening three weeks.

Banned young driver narrowly escaped immediate prison sentence at Durham Crown Court (Image: The Northern Echo)

Kathryn Wetherley, prosecuting, said it related to an offence on January 8, when police observed a Volkswagen Golf on the A1 near to the Metrocentre.

The officers noticed two people in the car, which was driven by Knighton.

A marked police vehicle approached from behind as the Golf was driven erratically into the Yellow Car Park, at the Gateshead indoor shopping complex.

Realising he was being followed by police, Knighton was seen jumping from the driver’s seat and his female passenger took over at the wheel, but was then in a collision.

Knighton was arrested at the scene and was tested for the presence of cocaine in his system.

Miss Wetherley said the results of those tests are yet to be received, so he has only, so far, appeared for driving while disqualified and no insurance.

She said the defendant’s seven previous convictions included offences of aggravated vehicle taking in 2024, plus dangerous driving and no insurance, for which he received the one-year ban from the road, in February 2025.

He received a further 12-month driving ban for failing to provide a breath specimen and driving while disqualified, in October.

Michael Forrest, for Knighton, said the defendant has accepted “making foolish decisions” in the past.

“At 19, when his friends are moving on in their lives, he’s in custody again.

“The Probation Service say he was just starting to complete previous rehabilitation activity requirement sessions and unpaid work.

“If a suspended prison sentence was to be passed, would that just setting him up for failure?

“He’s instructed me otherwise.

“He’s just found out his girlfriend is 13-weeks pregnant and he wants this to be a turning point in his life.

“He does have a history of driving offences.

“I’ve asked him what he would say to the court to assure it he won’t be back behind the wheel of a vehicle the moment he’s released from custody.

“He says he needs to get his employment sorted as he’s been working with his brother.

“He works as a landscaper and wants to drive lawfully in future as he wants to start his own business.”

Mr Forrest said the defendant spent almost five months on remand last year and has now experienced a further three weeks in custody.

Judge Nathan Adams told Knighton he “took a chance” on him when the defendant appeared before him on other matters in November.

“I was told you would get your head down and get on with your unpaid work.

“Somewhat frustratingly, you did start to engage much better and then, ‘stupidly’, on January 8 you go out driving.

“It gives me a stark choice of what to do with you now.

“I’ve tried to give you the benefit by trying to divert your behaviour.

“Is there still a chance, if I give you another chance?”

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The judge said he would pass a two-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, but with a further 100 hours’ unpaid work.

He told Knighton: “I want to ensure we don’t see you again.”

But he imposed a new driving disqualification of 33 months.