Disqualified driver 'claimed he wasn't the one behind the wheel'
He appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (2 August) for sentencing
Cambridgeshire Police say a disqualified driver who led police on a pursuit through Hampton and Yaxley 'claimed he wasn’t the one behind the wheel'.
It follows an incident back on 25th October last year, when a 999 call was made reporting a suspected burglary in progress at a building site in Aqua Drive, Hampton Water.
They then report that traffic officers who were nearby came bumper-to-bumper with Michael Murray, 47, and his 20-year-old passenger trying to leave the new-build housing site in a flatbed van.
Despite his path being blocked by the officers vehicles, Murray reversed through the estate and used construction access routes to make his escape onto London Road - which then led to the calling of back-up units to the incident, who pursued Murray through Yaxley where he swerved through traffic, drove on the wrong side of carriageways, through red traffic lights, and narrowly missed other drivers.
Murray is then said to have rammed police cars while he was driving on the A1M.
The man, of Fen View, Stanground, was then blocked by the officers on the motorway near Stilton and arrested but claimed he wasn’t the one driving.
'His standard of driving was described by one of the pursuing officers as some of the worst he has witnessed'
Enquiries by police confirmed nothing had been stolen from the construction site, therefore no action was taken in relation to the reported burglary, however Murray was charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance, all of which he admitted in court.
He appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (2 August) where he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 20 months and disqualified from driving for 18 months.
He must also complete a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and must adhere to a curfew between 9pm and 6am for the next three months, which will be monitored via an electronic tag.
PC Curtis Quirk, who investigated, said: “Murray has had several driving bans in the past and was on one at the time of this incident after being convicted of driving offences in April last year.
“His standard of driving was described by one of the pursuing officers as some of the worst he has witnessed, clearly showing a complete disregard to all other road users by risking their lives and those of our officers. Thankfully the pursuit ended before anyone was seriously injured.
“I would like to thank the person who called us to report the suspicious activity at the building site, this enabled us to deploy to what appeared to be a ‘crime in action’ and ultimately make the arrest.”