Police couldn’t believe what they were seeing after arranging for Thomas Allen to come into Bedford to speak with them about his poor driving.
On route to the meeting officers in their marked vehicle found themselves behind Allen in a Volkswagen Passat as he sped along the A428 at 100mph forcing other drivers to get out of his way.
Even when the police put on their blue flashing lights and siren for Allen to stop, he ignored the request and continued to put his foot down.
Luton Crown Court was told on Wednesday, September 30, the officers took the decision to stop the persuit because it was too dangerous.
Allen got away, but three days later officers went to his place of work and questioned him.
Incredibly, that was more than three years ago in July 2017 and Allen now 40 finally found himself in court for the matter when he admitted dangerous driving and having no insurance.
Prosecutor Keven West told the court that it was on the morning of July 23, 2017, that Allen of Knights Avenue, Clapham was on the 4428 heading towards Bedford for the meeting with the police.
The officers were also on route to Bedford and as they approached a roundabout they saw him behind the wheel of the Passat.
On a dual carriage section of the road they drew alongside him indicating he should pull over so they could have the meeting there and then.
To their astonishment Allen wasn’t in the mood for a chat and sped off.
Judge Barbara Mensah hearing the case was told on a single carriageway stretch of the road and in heavy traffic, Allen drove at speed overtaking cars ahead of him.
Mr West said officers clocked the defendant’s speed at over 100mph.
He said as Allen approached a junction he pulled out into the oncoming lane to get round a vehicle forcing the driver in a car coming towards him, to slam on the brakes.
Mr West said Allen also braked heavily causing the Passat to slide, narrowly missing the car.
The court was told it was at this point that the police officers decide to stop following Allen.
Having got away he contacted the officers later that morning in a text message to say he couldn’t make the meeting because something had “come up.”
He said “I can meet you anytime next week.”
When the the police sent a text message back asking why he hadn’t stopped for them he said he had panicked because he wasn’t insured to drive the car that morning which he was trying to sell.
The court heard that in early 2018 Allen had appeared in court and received a suspended sentence and disqualification for driving offences.
However it wasn’t the Dangerous Driving incident of July 23, 2017, but an earlier matter in April 2017 for which the officers had arranged the meeting with him to discuss
It was only in recent weeks that he had pleaded guilty to the dangerous driving.
Judge Mensah was told that Allen had not offended since his dangerous driving episode in July 2017 and now had an insight into his behaviour at the time which had contained an element of showing off
Allen, the judge was told had matured as person since that day and was now remorseful.
Allen was given a six month prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months and disqualified from driving for the next 15 months.
He was told he must take an extended driving test before get gets behind the wheel of a car again.
In addition he was told he will have to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and for the next three month he will be subject to a home curfew when he will have to be indoors between 10pm and 6am.
