Driver crashed through level crossing barriers during high-speed police pursuit
A banned driver smashed through railway line crossing barriers during a high-speed police pursuit in northern Lincolnshire.
A passenger train was only metres away when the car went over the crossing in the chase which happened in torrential rain.
Scott Wright, 37, of Winchester Avenue, Grimsby, admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified on December 5 last year. It was the fourth time he had got behind the wheel of a car while banned, Grimsby Crown Court heard.
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Wright also admitted obstructing the carriageway of a train engine in an unlawful act.
Prosecuting, Jane Rapin said police officers were on patrol on the A180 in the Stallingborough area when they became suspicious of a Volkswagen Golf, which they thought may have been stolen. They trailed the car which then turned off a couple of roads towards Barton.
When they signalled for the car to stop it sped off exceeding 100mph, said Miss Rapin. She told how the car was driven dangerously despite the heavy raid and poor visibility. It overtook a car on a blind bend on Caistor Road, towards Barton.
The Golf was also clocked doing 70mph in a 30mph limit near Barton. The officers kept up the pursuit and the car eventually approached a level crossing between Elsham and Wrawby.
Despite the red lights flashing at the crossing and the barriers coming down, Wright crashed through them. One of the barriers was dislodged and was on the crossing, just as a train was coming.
Police officers continued to pursue the Golf while other officers cleared the railway track of debris as the train passed safely, told Miss Rapin.
Other police officers laid out two stinger devices which brought the Golf to a halt and the driver was arrested.
The prosecutor said Wright had six previous convictions for 15 offences, with three previous convictions for driving while disqualified in 2012, 2013 and 2019.
In a police interview he said he had just bought the car the day before so that he could travel to see his son for his birthday. He said he panicked when he saw the police car trailing him.
For Wright, Ian Durant said his client had taken full responsibility for his actions and had made full and frank admissions to police. "He makes no excuses for his behaviour on December 5," said Mr Durant.
He added: "It is more sheer luck than judgement that he is not facing more serious offences due to the risk to his own life and those of the passengers on the train who were in danger."
The defence barrister said it was "a crass error of judgement".
Judge Gurdial Singh said Wright had driven "incredibly dangerously, passing cars dangerously on waterlogged roads." He said the defendant had "clearly put the lives of people on the train at risk."
"You crashed through a barrier when there was a train coming. If that was not bad enough you were driving while disqualified," the judge said. For dangerous driving he jailed Wright for 21 months and six months for obstructing an engine on the railway.
He said it was the fourth time Wright had driven while disqualified, so he jailed him for three months. All the sentences run consecutively making a total of 30 months in prison.
The judge banned Wright from driving for four years and three months and ordered him to take an extended retest.