A disqualified driver who reached 90mph during a police pursuit in Derby before colliding head-on with an unmarked police car has been jailed for three years and five months.
Philip Hutchinson, 54, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on August 3 after admitting dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
Pursuit began at Pentagon roundabout
Police first spotted the Kia Sportage at the Pentagon roundabout in Derby on December 18 last year, suspecting the driver was already banned from the road. When officers activated their blue lights, Hutchinson sped off and failed to stop.
He then travelled from Spondon towards the M1, contravening keep left signs, driving on the wrong side of the road and going through a red light. During the chase, he reached 90mph in 50mph zones and 70mph in 30mph zones.
Collision with unmarked car
Hutchinson also rammed the rear of a police car, entered a closed lane where workmen were operating, and went the wrong way around the J25 roundabout of the M1. He then attempted to join the A52 slip road the wrong way, where an officer in an unmarked car approached.
He drove straight at the vehicle, causing the officer to suffer concussion and whiplash, before being boxed in and arrested.
Sentence includes other offences
The three-year-and-five-month jail term also incorporated a number of other offences, including stalking, shoplifting and breaking bail conditions. Hutchinson was also banned from driving until he takes an extended retest.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Scott Riley from Derbyshire Constabulary's Roads Policing Unit said: “Hutchinson’s driving fell well below that of a competent and safe driver, and was even more dangerous given the fact that on the night of the pursuit there was very heavy rain, meaning the road surface was very slippery.
“He was already banned from driving and showed absolutely no regard for the safety of any other road users, instead choosing to deliberately drive straight towards a police car, injuring the officer in the process.
“Two police cars were damaged trying to bring Hutchinson to a stop before he could cause any more problems or further injuries.
“He finally took responsibility for his reckless actions by pleading guilty in court and is now quite rightly serving a prison sentence and extended driving ban.”
