York man jailed for dangerous driving - reaching speeds of 130mph

North Yorkshire Police caught him back in January, with Mikey Lee Neasham of Wenham Road pleading guilty to the offences

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 2nd Jul 2023

A man from York has been put behind bars for 17 months for dangerous driving - after a police pursuit earlier this year.

27-year-old Mikey Lee Neasham of Wenham Road appeared at York Crown Court on Friday (June 30) where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage to a police car following the incident on January 30.

Neasham was also banned from driving for two years and eight months and ordered to take an extended driving test during the sentencing.

The court heard how at around 10.50pm on Monday 30 January, officers spotted Neasham driving on the A1237 ring road around York, and didn't stop when directed to by the police.

Neasham ignored the officer’s instruction and instead sped off through the streets of Rawcliffe before smashing his way out of the car when he realised he was cornered by repeatedly ramming a police car and causing extensive damage.

He then took off towards Shipton-by-Beningbrough, reaching speeds of up to 130mph along the A19 through Skelton, taking corners at 100mph.

As Neasham approached Shipton-by-Beningbrough he sped through at three times the speed limit, tearing through the village at 90mph.

He then carried out a handbrake turn at the outskirts of the village before turning onto Corban Lane, heading in the direction of Wigginton and Haxby.

Down the national speed limit road, Neasham drove down it at 110mph, before turning right at the crossroads back in the direction of Skelton.

Before he reached the village for the second time, he lost control of his vehicle, crashing off the road into nearby fields.

When arrested, officers found Neasham only held an expired provisional licence and the Astra was uninsured.

Speaking about the sentence, Traffic Constable Jack Dodsworth, who took over the second part of the pursuit, said: “Neasham’s driving was exceptionally dangerous. The speeds he reached as he travelled through Skelton and Shipton-by-Beningbrough were utterly reckless and it was only through sheer luck that he didn’t cause a serious or fatal collision.

“Also, the damage he caused to my colleague’s vehicle was extensive, meaning that a valuable policing resource that’s used to keep the public of North Yorkshire safe was off the road for some time.

“I hope the sentence handed to Neasham today sends a clear message to those who have a cavalier attitude to road safety. Myself and my Roads Policing colleagues take our responsibility of keeping the county’s roads safe incredibly seriously, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure those who gamble with the safety of other road users face the courts.”

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