Booze-fuelled Doncaster driver sparked high-speed police chase and killed a cat
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Police were forced to pursue 27-year-old motorist Jake Rutherford after they believed he had been driving at speed in Thorne, Doncaster, and as he tried to outrun the patrol car he reached speeds of up to 90mph.
Amy Earnshaw, prosecuting, told a Sheffield Crown Court hearing on November 25 that police claimed to have seen Rutherford carry out a right-hand turn at speed and exceed the speed limit on King Edward Road and as they followed him with flashing lights and a siren he failed to stop.
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Hide AdMrs Earnshaw added Rutherford drove away at speeds of 90mph in a 30mph area, and drove on the opoosite side of a carriageway just missing another vehicle before he went on Micklethwaite Road, at Moorends, driving at 60mph through a residential area with parked cars on each side of the road.
The defendant went through a junction without stopping near Gainford Road, according to Mrs Earnshaw, and struck a cat which died and he went into a cul de sac at Gainford Square and fled on foot before he was found hiding in a garden.
Recorder Michael Fanning told Rutherford: “You drove along residential streets at 60mph. You struck and killed a cat and did it all while being pursued by police.”
The defendant, who is of previous good character pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after the incident on August 13 and he admitted exceeding the drink-drive limit and driving without insurance and without a licence.
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Hide AdJames Gould, defending, said Rutherford is an extremely well-liked man and a devoted father but he had reacted badly to the news his relationship had broken down and had decided to drive.
Recorder Michael Fanning told Rutherford: "You made a conscious decision to drive. You knew you weren’t insured and didn’t hold a driving licence and you knew you were over the limit and you made a conscious decision to drive and out-drive a police vehicle.”
Recorder Fanning sentenced Rutherford to six-months of custody and disqualified him from driving for 20 months.