'Truly dreadful piece of dangerous driving' lands motorist in jail

DRIVER TRIED TO EVADE POLICE

- By MARK NAYLOR

A RECKLESS and panicking van driver could have killed himself and other people after he desperately tried to escape from the police during a “truly dreadful piece of dangerous driving”.

Michael Dennett narrowly avoided causing a serious crash after he overtook a car while a lorry was heading towards him in the opposite direction. He was worried about stopping for the police because he already had three speeding tickets but his “highly dangerous” antics landed him in prison, Hull Crown Court heard.

Dennett, 52, of Cedar Drive, Beverley, admitted dangerous driving on April 14 and breaching a community order imposed on March 11.

Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said police saw a Mercedes van in Wawne Road, Bransholme, and recognised it from already having seen it three times earlier that morning. Officers had to drive at high speed to catch up with the van and followed it while checks were carried out on it.

The van was driven onto the A1079 towards Beverley. It did not slow down and overtook a car while an HGV lorry was coming head-on in the opposite direction. The lorry had to take evasive action to avoid a crash.