Shropshire Star

No-licence driver went 'screaming past' school in Shrewsbury during police chase

A father-of-five without a driving licence went "screaming past" a Shrewsbury school just before home time while being pursued by police, a court heard.

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Aaron Doran said he "panicked" when he was approached by officers on foot and reached speeds of up to 60mph in residential streets around Shrewsbury during the car chase.

It included speeding past The Grange School in Mount Pleasant Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

The 29-year-old, of Crowmeole Lane, Shrewsbury, had admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance at a previous court hearing and appeared to be sentenced.

Judge Peter Barrie sentenced Doran to four months in prison – but opted to suspend the jail term for a period of 12 months.

Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said police received an anonymous call on April 27 that a Peugeot 306 was being driven by Doran without insurance.

She said: "Police approached the car on foot. On reaching it, the officer had to step back because the car took off at speed."

Miss Powis said Doran sped past the school, overshot a junction, drove briefly on the wrong side of the road and forced members of the public to "step back" before getting out of the car and fleeing on foot.

He was eventually found, crouched down and hiding, in someone's back garden.

Miss Powis said: "He told police he had panicked because he knew he had no licence or insurance."

Mr Dean Easthope, for Doran, said his client had "matured a lot" in the last few years.

"He has five young children, four of whom live with him," Mr Easthope said.

"The motivation for the offence was that he was driving because he had to get to work.

"He has shown genuine remorse. It was a stupid incident, misguided."

Judge Barrie, sentencing Doran, said: "This was an extremely stupid and extremely dangerous piece of driving, because it was the middle of the afternoon.

"Just imagine if a schoolchild had been unable to get out of the way as you went screaming past.

"It doesn't bear thinking about, does it?"

Doran was also ordered to complete 25 days of "rehabilitation" work with the probation service and to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £300 court costs, as well as being fined £200 for having no insurance.

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