A man from the Black Country has been sent to prison after a high-speed police pursuit described by a judge as demonstrating "extraordinarily reckless" behaviour.
Terrifying pursuit through residential areas
Peter O'Neil led officers on a dangerous chase, reaching speeds of 70mph in areas with a 30mph limit. The pursuit saw him weaving through traffic and ignoring red lights in built-up residential zones, creating what the court heard was a massive risk to other road users and pedestrians.
Deliberate ramming of police vehicle
In a desperate final bid to escape, O'Neil intentionally reversed his car into a pursuing police vehicle. The collision caused significant damage to the emergency service car. Fortunately, the officers inside avoided serious injury.
The court was told that O'Neil was already disqualified from driving and had no insurance at the time of the offences. His defence argued that he had panicked upon seeing the police blue lights.
Custodial sentence and lengthy ban imposed
Sentencing him, the judge stated that a prison term was the only appropriate response for such a blatant disregard for public safety. The act of ramming the police car was highlighted as a serious escalation of his criminal conduct.
In addition to the custodial sentence, O'Neil received a driving ban lasting several years. He will also be required to pass an extended re-test before he can ever legally drive again. The result serves as a stern warning to others who might consider trying to outrun the police.
