Driver who caused Christmas chaos in Sunderland is jailed for eight months

By Daisy Aitchison

A man who prompted a police pursuit around Sunderland on Christmas Day has been jailed after pleading guilty to a string of driving offenses.

Dylan Robinson, 25, was pursued after refusing to stop for police in the early evening of Christmas Day. After a prolonged chase, the driver struck a curb with his vehicle and damaged his front tire. Robinson was later charged with a string of offenses, including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. He pleaded guilty to all the charges this week at Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

PC Gary Morris, part of Northumbria Police’s motor patrols unit, said “This was an incredibly dangerous incident” and that Robinson had “endangered the lives of residents and police by his selfish actions.”

Robinson was giving friends a lift home just after 6pm on December 25 when he was asked to stop by police. Instead, the Ashkirk resident drove at high speeds through the Ford Estate, barely avoiding collisions with other motorists in an attempt to evade capture. After just over eight minutes Robinson hit a curb with his Saab vehicle and lost a tire, allowing police to arrest and charge him.

As well as his eight-month prison sentence, Robinson was given a two-year road ban on Tuesday in court. PC Morris later stated: “Clearly Robinson is not responsible enough to get behind the wheel.”

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