Express & Star

'Reckless' driver sentenced

Reaching speeds of 128 miles per hour and almost colliding with a bus and ambulance, a 30-year-old man has been sentenced for dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Published
Mr Mason, right, leaving court on Friday.

30-year-old Gavin Mason of Foster Street, Blakenhall, lead police on a high-speed chase just after midnight on June 14 this year.

He pleaded guilty at a previous hearing. He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months, disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £460. The former mechanic must also complete an extended driving test once the disqualification comes to an end.

Driving a Volkswagon Golf, CCTV of the chase showed Mr Mason weave in and out of traffic, launch over speed bumps and swerve around corners at high speed.

Travelling through Blakenhall then continuing onto the M6, the court heard how Mr Mason narrowly missed colliding with a bus and an ambulance on an emergency call with its blue lights flashing.

Prosecutor Mr David Bennett said at the sitting at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Friday: "The headlines of this case are that Mr Mason was driving at extreme speed in residential areas, reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour in some areas then travelling at 128 miles per hour when travelling along the M6, almost colliding with a bus and ambulance travelling to an emergency call with blue lights."

Dashcam footage released from the police revealed the extent of the chase, showing Mr Mason speeding up then slowing down at various points in the 20-minute chase.

He later stopped and pulled over. He was arrested at the scene and told officers that he 'panicked' because he knew he was driving an uninsured car.

Speaking in the dock, Mr Mason said: "I just want to say I'm sorry for what I've done.

"I lost my job as a mechanic result of my driving."

Sentencing Mr Mason, Recorded Mr Paul Bleasdale said: "You did all you could to evade police in those 20 minutes, reaching speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour in residential areas, then 128 miles per hour on the M6.

"You just narrowly missed colliding with a bus and ambulance. This was clearly a reckless piece of driving.

"You were a danger not only to yourself but to the officers in pursuit as well as other drivers and travellers on the road.

"This therefore passes the custody threshold. The starting sentence for this type of offence in nine months imprisonment, but I will reduce this to six months for your early guilty plea.

"I have suspended this because you have only two other previous convictions for unrelated matters.

"You are extremely lucky."

Mr Mason agreed to pay costs to the prosecution at a rate of £50 per month.

The court heard how Mr Mason had previously had his case adjourned from September this year, due to not preparing legal representation for himself. He asked for an adjournment of the sentencing on Friday as he continued to have no legal representation. The judge rejected the request.