Boozed-up Doncaster man leapt from a moving van to escape police

Luke Hinsley failed to stop for officers after he was seen speeding in a white transit van in the Bessacarr area of Doncaster, at 10.15pm, on June 23, last year, prosecutor Stephanie Hollis said.

He reached 60mph in a 40mph zone and 40mph in a 20mph zone, driving on the wrong side of the road and cutting corners.

On Bawtry Road he narrowly avoided a collision and overtook a cyclist at speed, said Ms Hollis.

Hinsley jumped out of the van while it was still moving and it hit a lamppost.

He ran into woods at the rear of Brantwood Crescent, but was later spotted ducking into a nearby address where police found and arrested him.

A breath test revealed he had 45 mcgs of alcohol when the legal limit is 35 mcgs. At first Hinsley claimed he was only the passenger, but once he was shown dashcam footage of the chase, he admitted he was the only driver.

Anastasis Tasou, mitigating, conceded that only a custodial sentence would meet the interests of justice.

But he said that the "unique" set of circumstances that led up to the offence, and Hinsley's previous good character, meant the court could step back from custody.

He said Hinsley had fled the family home to escape domestic violence, the speeds were not excessively high and the chase only lasted ten minutes.

“It was a very stupid and foolish decision,” he said. “It is unlikely that he is a man who will ever appear in front of the courts again.”

Hinsley, 30, of Levet Road, Cantley, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol, on December 10.

Judge Rachael Harrison told him: "This was an appalling decision with potentially appalling consequences. And you then lied about it. The best that can be said is that you pleaded guilty and you have no previous convictions."

She imposed a 12 month community with 200 hours of unpaid work, and banned him from driving for 18 months

“If you make a fool out of me by breaching this order you will got to prison for nine months,” she told him.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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