Banned driver spared jail after police chase

A banned driver who led police on a high-speed chase narrowly avoided prison despite crashing into parked cars and injuring his passenger.
Derbyshire PoliceDerbyshire Police
Derbyshire Police

Michael Raisbeck, 28, already had three previous driving bans when police spotted him driving a Suzuki Swift in Church Square, Whitby.

Raisbeck sped off past startled pedestrians and hurtled round a 90-degree bend towards Crescent Place, where he nearly hit a parked car, York Crown Court heard on Friday.

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He pulled out of a junction in front of an oncoming car and sped through Wellington Terrace, colliding with two parked cars.

Prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said the Suzuki hit the back of a VW Polo, which was shunted into a neighbouring property and a jeep parked behind it. The Suzuki then struck a Renault Clio after Raisbeck lost control on a bend.

Raisbeck fled, leaving behind a male passenger with a cut lip caused by the crash, but was caught by police who found two packets of high-strength cocaine on him.

Raisbeck, of St Peter’s Road, Whitby, was charged with dangerous driving, possessing Class A drugs, driving while disqualified, and having no licence or insurance in connection with the incident at about 9.30am on September 27 . He appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to all the offences.

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The court heard the former car mechanic was banned in May 2011 for driving without a licence or insurance. In 2012 he was disqualified for another two years for drink-driving.

In January 2014, he was given a four-year ban after driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen for a drink-drive test. It’s understood that Raisbeck has never held a licence.

Defence barrister Glen Parsons said the married father-of-three had since tried to turn his life around and found new work as a hotel sous-chef.

Although police found drugs on Raisbeck, he had not been driving under the influence. Judge Rodney Jameson QC gave Raisbeck a 12-month prison sentence, suspended this for a year.He was also given a four-year driving ban and 200 hours’ unpaid work.