Boozed-up van driver chased man through South Yorkshire town centre

Lyle Jones was thrown out of a pub on Peel Street, in Barnsley, when a fight broke out, just after midnight, on March 20, last year, said prosecutor Brian Outhwaite.

Jones hurled a glass at the man who ejected him, then got into his brother's VW Caddy van and drove it at the man, forcing him to jump out of the way.

He mounted the pavement and went through a red light, then performed a U-turn and drove back.

Jones "hit" a man in the middle of the road at low speed and carried him on the bonnet, but he was fortunately left uninjured, Mr Outhwaite said.

He continued to chase the man from the pub around Peel Square as members of the public tried to stop him.

When police arrested him, he was found to be more than twice above the drink drive limit.

Andrew Swaby, mitigating, said Jones has no previous convictions and made "full and frank admissions" to police.

"He was at a low ebb following the death of his father, in 2015, and his brother, in 2017," Mr Swaby said. "It was a family tradition to get together and celebrate St Patrick's Day.

"He foolishly decided to take his brother's van without his consent. He can offer no sensible explanation for why he drove the vehicle in the way he did.”

The court heard that the man who jumped on to his bonnet is a friend of the defendant.

"You will obviously take a dim view of this case," Mr Swaby said. "He is not a regular drinker unless it is Christmas or a special event.”

Jones, 24, of Hilltop, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking without the owner's consent and dangerous driving.

Judge Peter Kelson QC told Jones he was a provisional driver at the time and uninsured, but his behaviour was "completely out of character."

He sentenced him to 12 months, suspended for two years, and imposed 15 days of rehabilitation with 100 hours of unpaid work. Jones was banned for 12 months and must pass the extended test before he can drive again.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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