A “legless” drunk drove at nearly 130mph in a stolen BMW on the A55 before stopping 11 miles later after a police chase.
Philip John Scarisbrick, of McQueen Street, Old Swan, Liverpool, weaved among other cars, changing lanes and braking hard, and forced other drivers to “take evasive action”, Caernarfon Crown Court heard today.
Prosecutor Jayne La Grua said Scarisbrick, a labourer and father-of-four, had driven from Liverpool in the car, which belonged to the aunt of Holyhead man Cain Jones.
Ms La Grua said Jones, 20, of Cybi Close, Holyhead, had taken the car from outside his aunt’s house in the town.
She said Jones had taken the black Series 3 BMW to go for “a night out in Liverpool”.
On October 8, the car was being driven back to Anglesey by Scarisbrick, who was accompanied by Jones and another youth, when a police traffic officer tried to stop it at about 6.15pm.
After the officer put his blue lights on twice, the car stopped at Junction 7 near Gaerwen, said Ms La Grua.
However, when the police officer stepped out of his car, the BMW sped off.
Video from the police car showed the BMW being driven at speeds of 129mph and, at one point, the occupants threw mobile phones from the car.
Ms La Grua said Scarisbrick was “clearly drunk”.
After Scarisbrick refused and then failed to give a breath test, another one taken four hours later showed his breath-alcohol count was 85 - more than twice the limit of 37.
Ms La Grua said he had “an appalling record for motoring offences”, including driving while banned.
Anna Pope, for Jones, said that, if he hadn’t taken the car, the offences would not have happened.
Ffion Tomos, for Scarisbrick, admitted that he was “intoxicated” at the time.
Sentencing Jones to eight months suspended for two years, Judge Geraint Walters said he had pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.
Sentencing Scarisbrick, Judge Walters said: “You knew that the car belonged to his relative and ended up driving it.
“You were weaving back and forth. If all of that wasn’t bad enough, you were driving dangerously.
“You could have ended up facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. It is astonishing that you were driving at speeds of nearly 130mph and legless.”
Judge Walters sentenced Scarisbrick to 12 months in jail for driving while banned, driving dangerously and failing to provide a breath sample.
There was no separate punishment for having no insurance.
Scarisbrick was banned from driving for three years and ordered to take an extended test.
Following the sentencing, PC Scott Martin from North Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit said: “It is very sad that a small number of motorists still feel they can behave in a totally reckless manner when they take to the roads.
“People who drive in this manner are taking their lives and the lives of others into their own hands.
“North Wales Police have a robust strategy in enforcing the Fatal 5 offences, one of which is dangerous driving.
“I welcome the sentence given and hope it sends a strong message to anyone who considers driving dangerously to be acceptable.”
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/legless-drunk-drove-130mph-stolen-10798426
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