Thornaby dangerous driver loses his licence and Ford Mondeo

Carl Callen was spotted by officers as he raced bumper to bumper in his Ford Mondeo with another vehicle in Ingleby Barwick.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 32-year-old mechanic initially pulled over for the police before executing a three-point turn and driving off at speed at about 10pm at night.

Lucy Todd, prosecuting, said: “Both vehicles accelerated hard and reached a speed of 70mph in a 40mph zone – the Mondeo was bumper to bumper with the one in front before officers activated their lights and sirens.”

The court heard how both cars pulled over before Callen performed a three-point turn and tried to make off from the scene.

Miss Todd said Callen reached speeds in excess of 90mph and went through a red light at the crossroads of Myton Way and The Rings causing another vehicle to take evasive action.

She said the defendant eventually pulled over again and told the officers that he had panicked before telling them there was cocaine for personal use in his car.

Callen, of Sapley Close, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following his arrest on February 2 last year.

Michele Turner, mitigating, said her client had no previous convictions and his pre-sentence report shows that he has no criminogenic needs to address.

She said he had now found a new job and his father was taking him to and from work in Hartlepool.

Recorder Kama Melly KC sentenced Callen to a 12-month community order and told him he must carry out 50 hours of unpaid work.

“You seemed to be racing another vehicle and were driving at 70mph in a 40mph area and other drivers had to take evasive action,” she said.

Callen was also banned from driving for a year and had his car seized by the police.