A disqualified driver who failed to stop for police on several occasions has been jailed for 12 months.
Kieran Wheeler, 26, of Oakhurst, Swindon, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on November 14 after he pleaded guilty to the following offences:
Failing to provide a specimen for analysis
Driving whilst disqualified
Driving without insurance
Obstruct police
Breaching suspended sentence x 2
Fail to stop x 2
He was also given a two year driving ban plus an extension period of six months and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187.
Roads policing officers initially witnessed Wheeler driving a black Mazda 3 travelling on Marlborough Road in Swindon with a defective headlight. The vehicle turned off at Marlborough Road onto Day House Lane without indicating. Officers followed Wheeler and the vehicle was seen to swerve, almost colliding with the verge before coming to a stop.
Officers illuminated blue lights but Wheeler attempted to reverse before then wheel spinning and driving off through a narrow opening in a fence, and at speed across a footpath onto a field where it became stuck.
Wheeler ran off but was detained by officers. He initially gave false details but was later found to be driving whilst disqualified and without insurance and was arrested. In custody, he failed to provide an evidential sample of blood for drug analysis.
PC Luke Hobbs said: “Wheeler did everything in his power to evade police, driving off at speed despite officers requesting him to stop, running from police and later giving false details and failing to provide.
“His standard of driving showed absolutely no regard for other road users or pedestrians – it is extremely fortunate that nobody was injured or worse killed as a result of Wheeler’s selfish and mindless actions. I’m pleased a custodial sentence has been given on this occasion. His actions could have had extremely serious consequences and it is only right that he must now serve a prison sentence as well as a lengthy driving ban.”