Provisionally-licensed driver who led police on Midhurst pursuit convicted
He only pulled over at the request of his girlfriend's mother
A provisional licence holder who police say 'risked the lives of numerous road users' in a pursuit through Midhurst has avoided jail.
Officers spotted a Toyota Yaris registered to an unlicensed driver during patrols on the A286 on March 3rd.
They signalled for it to stop, but the driver continued on his journey and made several dangerous overtakes into the path of oncoming traffic, including on the approach to bends and contravening solid double white lines in the road which prohibits overtaking.
The driver reached speeds of approximately 60mph in a 30mph zone and eventually pulled into a layby.
He was arrested and identified as 18-year-old Kieran Morgan, unemployed and of no fixed address.
After being required to undergo a roadside test for alcohol and drugs, he replied:
“I may be stupid enough to drive on a provisional licence, but I’m not stupid enough to drink or drug-drive.”
His 17-year-old girlfriend was also in the vehicle at the time, and during a police interview Morgan added that he only stopped at the request of her mother, who was on the phone to her during the pursuit.
He was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by police and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He pleaded guilty to all three offences, and at Portsmouth Court on April 19th, Morgan was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and must take an extended re-test should he wish to drive again, and is required to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Arresting officer, PC Steve Bucksey, of the Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said:
“Inexperience behind the wheel as a provisional licence holder, combined with a series of dangerous manoeuvres and excessive speed, is a lethal mix. Morgan created this dangerous environment for all road users, as well as himself, and it’s extremely fortunate this incident ended without tragedy.
“Morgan showed a clear disregard for his passenger and other road users that day, almost colliding head-on with other vehicles, forcing them to take evasive action.
“Collisions where fatal and life changing injuries occur is tragic for all those involved, from the family and the witnesses, to the emergency services responding.
"We are committed to reducing the number of avoidable collisions through our education and enforcement of the ‘fatal five’ offences – speeding, drink/drug-driving, mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt and careless driving.”