Teen driver jailed for high speed police pursuit

A teenage driver who put lives at risk during a police pursuit near children walking to school has been jailed.

Lewis Naisbitt reached speeds of 100mph (161km/h) through London Road, Carlisle, more than three times the speed limit, and drove through red lights while near children walking on pavements.

Carlisle Crown Court heard the 19-year-old of Sunningdale Road, Middlesbrough, was a disqualified driver and had no recollection of the incident due to previous consumption of pregabalin and cannabis.

Naisbitt admitted dangerous driving, disqualified driving, failing to take a preliminary drug test, having no insurance and fraudulently using a registration mark. He was jailed for 14 months.

He came to the police's attention at about 07:00 BST on 9 September on the M6 into the city, with reports he had rammed a patrol vehicle in Scotland and had false number plates.

Judge Nicholas Barker also imposed a two-year driving ban, to be served upon release. He must also complete a mandatory retest before his licence is returned.

Naisbitt was told by the judge the thought he had memory loss because of drugs "chills the veins".

Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins said the defendant had progressively increased his speed as police followed.

"Dashcam footage shows some schoolchildren on the pavement, while the defendant drives past at [100mph] speed," he said.

The court heard he narrowly avoided colliding with another vehicle as he left Carlisle for the M6 at about 115mph (185km/h).

As police brought traffic to a standstill in a bid to halt Naisbitt, he undertook vehicles in the hard shoulder and continued to drive despite tyres being burst by a stinger as he left the motorway at junction 41 near Penrith.

Hopkins said he then crashed into the front of a stationary HGV and forced the driver of a second lorry to take evasive action.

Defence barrister Scarlett Wilson said Naisbitt had asked her to apologise to the court on his behalf.

"The incident was incredibly nasty," she said.

"He is somewhat embarrassed to think about it and what could have happened and the injury that could have been caused by his actions. It rightly troubles him."

Judge Barker, who heard of Naisbitt's challenging upbringing, called him "a danger to life".

"Your determination to avoid the police was absolute and disregarded, completely, everyone else's safety," the judge said.

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