Someone Certainly 'Displays A Blatant Disregard For The Safety Of Others'...

Rob Hall, prosecuting, told how Martin was seen by police driving a Ford Kuga, which had cloned number plates, in the Bolton town centre area just before 10pm on March 20.

The vehicle had been stolen in a burglary at a home in Mersey Road, Sale on March 7.

"When officers put on their emergency lights and two tone horns this defendant's response was to drive away from them at speed and in a dangerous manner," said Mr Hall.

"The defendant drives on the wrong side of the road, overtakes in front of oncoming vehicles, travels at a speed up to 96mph in a 30mph limit and then drives through red lights, avoiding vehicles that were using that crossing at the time.

"He then performs a u-turn while being pursued by the police, his car swerves through other vehicles on the road and then, again, goes onto the wrong side of the road travelling at 90mph in a residential area.

"Such was the behaviour of the defendant and his driving that the police helicopter, in effect, called off the pursuit because of the potential danger to other road users.

"It is quite clear the defendant showed a blatant disregard for the safety of others."

...and it's not just the defendant, but the bewigged moron in the judge's seat:

Sentencing Martin to a community order for two years, Judge Timothy Stead said: "Usually, in this court, those who take flight from police when lights are flashing and drive dangerously through the suburbs go straight to prison. That's a near guarantee if anybody is injured or there is serious damage to property.

"Quite astonishingly, on Halliwell Road, that didn't happen. It really is amazing."

I think the word you were looking for was 'fortuitous'...

Martin was ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work, participate in 25 days of rehabilitation activities and was banned from driving for two years.

The judge told him: "I do hope, if only for the sake of your family, that you are sorry and ashamed of what brings you here.

"I don't think you are a bad person at all — you took some very silly decisions and the ultimate one was a dangerous decision.

"I am not going to stigmatise you with a prison sentence."

*grinds teeth*

I suppose it was only to be expected.