How knife-wielding 'Tez' and a sheep carcass in the boot got one dangerous driver out of jail – despite twice smashing into the cops

Holding's prison sentence was suspended after a judge accepted that his actions had been influenced by a passenger in his Astra referred to in the court only as 'Tez'.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said that the incident had taken place during the evening of May 29 last year.

He told how Holding had two passengers in the vehicle – a woman, and the man called 'Tez'.

Holding had taken them to Barmouth during the day, and the court heard that during the journey they had stopped so 'Tez' could skin a sheep.

Judge Recorder Michelle Heeley was told that a skinned sheep was in the boot of the car while the pursuit with police took place, and 'Tez' was still in possession of the knife.

The court heard that when they were finally stopped, 'Tez' had got out of the car to run for it, and told Holding to tell the police he had been threatened with the knife.

Mr Jones had earlier revealed details of the chase, with police first noticing Holding's vehicle on the A49 at Dorrington.

As they followed the vehicle it turned into Sharpstone Lane at Bayston Hill.

Police drove up behind the vehicle, which stopped in the middle of the road, before reversing and ramming into the police vehicle.

Holding then sped away towards Bayston Hill Quarry where he did a circuit before heading back out onto the A49.

The Astra drove towards Shrewsbury and went through two sets of red lights on the Dobbies Roundabout of the A5, before heading south on the A49.

Mr Jones said the car overtook another vehicle at 90mph, and was seen straddling the central white lines at various points in the pursuit.

The car again pulled onto a side lane and slowed down. Police maintained a distance but Holding again reversed at the patrol car, with officers themselves reversing in an attempt to avoid another collision.

But, despite police efforts Holding once again rammed the Astra into the officers' vehicle.

The vehicle was caught a short time later.

Mr Jones said that Holding had told how he had been giving a lift to the man called 'Tez', who he said was wanted by the police.

He told officers they had been to Barmouth for the day and at one stage he had stopped and his passenger had 'killed a sheep', which was in the boot of the car.

Alexa Carrier, mitigating, said it was a "somewhat unusual case," adding that the passenger in the car had "a big part to play".

She said "he had been killing and skinning animals in the day," adding: "He had a knife to do that."

She told Recorder Heeley: "This was not a duress case but it is a case just short of duress."

She urged the court to suspend the sentence, saying Holding has no previous convictions, and "especially given the reasons he was driving in the manner he was".

Sentencing Recorder Heeley said: "When police tried to pull you over you ignored them and you didn't just drive away, you reversed twice into a police car."

Referring to the manner of Holding's driving she said: "Quite frankly it was a miracle no one was seriously hurt or killed."

But she added: "I accept you were told to drive this way from someone with a knife, but it fell short of duress."

Holding was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He will have to complete 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days, as well as 150 hours of unpaid work.

Recorder Heeley added: "If you commit any further offences in the 18 months you will be in breach of that suspended sentence and you will go to prison."