'It's a godsend no-one was injured,' Judge tells Doncaster man as he jails him for dangerous, rush-hour chase

A banned driver been put behind bars for a dangerous and prolonged police chase through the streets of Doncaster.
During a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Roger Thomas QC sent 25-year-old Lewis Robson to prison for 19 months for a string of charges including dangerous driving, possession of Class A drugs and failure to provide a specimen.During a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Roger Thomas QC sent 25-year-old Lewis Robson to prison for 19 months for a string of charges including dangerous driving, possession of Class A drugs and failure to provide a specimen.
During a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Roger Thomas QC sent 25-year-old Lewis Robson to prison for 19 months for a string of charges including dangerous driving, possession of Class A drugs and failure to provide a specimen.

During a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Roger Thomas QC sent 25-year-old Lewis Robson to prison for 19 months for a string of charges including dangerous driving, possession of Class A drugs and failure to provide a specimen.

On April 26 this year, police officers caught Robson, who has been banned from driving since 2011, driving an uninsured Ford Fiesta.

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Following a police search, Robson, of Staveley Road, Edlington was also found to be in possession of heroin, spice and amphetamines.

Then, at around 9.30am on June 26, patrolling police officers caught Robson driving an uninsured Volkswagen Passat through Hexthorpe, and asked him to take his keys out of the ignition.

"The defendant didn't take his keys out of the ignition, and drove off instead. He drives through red lights, two of which are pedestrian crossings, while people are actually crossing the road," prosecutor, Susan Evans, said.

The court heard how police chased Robson as he sped through Hexthorpe and into Doncaster town centre, before eventually pulling over and stopping around seven minutes later.

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Ms Evans told the court that Robson has 56 previous convictions, some of which were for offences of dangerous driving and failure to provide a specimen.

Robson pleaded guilty to offences of dangerous driving, possession of Class A and B drugs, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified, breach of a community order and failure to provide a specimen.

Richard Hague, defending, told the court: "In March he became homeless, borrowed a car, and slept where he could, and these offences occurred as a consequence."

He added: "Having become homeless, he began taking the wrong substances, and this offending took place. It was practically inevitable, with the background of his offending.

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"The best mitigation I can put forward for him is his early guilty plea."

Judge Thomas also banned Robson from driving for three years, nine months, after which time he will be required to take an extended test should he wish to get behind the wheel again.

He told Robson: "It's a godsend no-one was injured, no thanks to your driving."