A banned driver who was not wearing a seat belt when he was spotted by the police sped off through Luton at up to 70mph.
Jamie Saratan, 29, led officers on a two minute chase ignoring give way signs, going around roundabouts the wrong way and hitting another car.
rosecutor Robert Forrest told Luton Crown Court on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, that Saratan was in a white Fiat in Selbourne Road on November 29 last year when he went past a police car and was seen not to be wearing a seat belt.
The officers activated their lights and sirens but Saratan drove away. He ignored give way signs as he went onto Maidenhall Road and then right into Maryport Road with the police car travelling at 66mph through the residential area in a bid to keep up.
Saratan turned right onto Arundel Road and then across the mini roundabout at Wingate Road ignoring a give way sign.
He went back onto Selbourne Road where he hit the side of a red Nissan Qashqai before heading down Waller Avenue at 70mph.
He turned into Beechwood Road and then went down Dawlish Road, which was a dead end. Mr Forrest said the police blocked him in and he was arrested.
Cannabis was smelt on his breath and he was found to have a small amount of the drug on him. He was tested and found to have 9mg of THC in his blood per litre.
The legal limit is 2mg.
Saratan of Lincoln Close, Dunstable appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing cannabis, driving while disqualified, driving while over the drug limit and failing to stop.
He had been banned from driving for 12 months just 17 days earlier.
Defending, Adam Butler said: “He accepts his driving was dangerous and accepts he was above the speed limit.”
Mr Butler said Saratan had driven off in a fit of temper after a dispute with his cousin over a business they were starting.
He said he had cut down on his cannabis use and had undergone a mental health assessment. Judge Lynn Tayton QC told him his driving was dangerous and was aggravated by the drugs he had in his system.
The judge told him: “I don’t care if you knew the roads or not. Your driving was dangerous.”
She said the offence crossed the custody threshold, but would suspend the sentence because of his mental health issues. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail suspended for 18 months. He must attend 12 sessions of a mental health treatment requirement and 20 rehabilitation days.
In addition he must carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work and abide by a curfew for six months from 7pm to 7am.
He was banned from driving for three years and must take an extended retest before he can regain his licence.
