Dangerous Doncaster driver caught by police dog after he fled from car

Sheffield Crown Court heard on January 26 how Alexander Michael, aged 29, of Bruce Crescent, Intake, Doncaster, feared he might have been over the drink-drive limit when he sped away from police through Doncaster.

Judge David Dixon said Michael had gone out and had something to drink and got behind the wheel of a car and even though he was not over the limit he panicked when he saw a police car and drove off in a dangerous way.

Judge Dixon told Michael: “You drove through a housing estate where the speed limit is fixed at 20mph. You drove over three times that rate, driving at 70mph.

"Such is the way you were driving you lost control and ploughed into a lamppost. The effect of that was not only did you damage the car you were driving and the lamppost, the car came off the ground.”

Police expected Michael to stop, according to Judge Dixon, but the defendant reversed and headed-off and had to be followed by police with their “blues-and-twos” before he collided with another lamppost.

Judge Dixon told Michael: “You set off running even when you were told a police dog would be set loose. You were brought down by a police dog who bites you in the process.”

Michael pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after the incident on December 21, 2019.

Judge Dixon told Michael: “You drove in such a way that if you had come across anybody else you would have killed them. You were lucky you did not injure yourself.

"The reality is that people driving in that way are a menace on the roads.”

The court heard Michael had never been in serious trouble before and he had been struggling with mental health issues but has since sought help and has been working and supporting his two children.

Judge Dixon sentenced Michael to 12 months of custody suspended for two years with 150 hours of unpaid work and a supervision requirement. Michael was disqualified from driving for two years.

Judge Dixon warned if Michael commits any breaches he will lock him up

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