Police hit car to stop it going wrong way on A1(M)
GooglePolice officers had to ram a fleeing car to stop the "catastrophic consequences" of it driving the wrong way down a motorway, a court has heard.
Banned driver Matthew Cannings-Kent, 27, reached speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone before trying to join the A1(M) at Darlington in the wrong direction in a bid to escape pursuing police, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Cannings-Kent admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified and with no insurance. He was found guilty of going equipped for theft.
Giving him a suspended sentence, recorder Taryn Turner said he had presented an "obvious risk" to law-abiding road users.
Police were called to reports of a car being driven erratically and using false number plates on the A1(M) heading from North Yorkshire into County Durham on the evening of 11 May, the court heard.
Officers spotted the car at Faverdale industrial estate on the edge of Darlington at about 23:35 BST and a pursuit began, the court heard.
'Left negative influences'
Cannings-Kent hit 70mph in a 30mph zone and went the wrong way round a roundabout as he sought to get away from the police, the court heard.
The "most serious feature" was when he made to join the A1(M) in the wrong direction at the A68 junction, Turner said, with officers "forced" to bring him to a stop to avoid "catastrophic consequences".
After his car was rammed, Cannings-Kent attempted to run away on foot but was quickly apprehended, the court heard.
In his car officers found gloves and tin snips, items "commonly associated with acquisitive offending", the judge said.
In mitigation, the court heard Cannings-Kent had fallen under "negative influences" while living in the Durham area but had since moved to Kent to make a fresh start as a roofer.
Cannings-Kent, now of St Patrick's Gardens in Gravesend, was jailed for 13 months suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work.
He was also told to pay £500 in court costs and banned from driving for two years.
