Kirkby driver faces 24-weeks behind bars after police chase

A driver faces 24 weeks jail after a 50mph police chase during a trip from his home in Kirkby.
Nottingham Magistrates Court.Nottingham Magistrates Court.
Nottingham Magistrates Court.

Nottingham magistrates imposed the penalty after hearing that Thomas Butler crossed tram tracks in the city and skidded on a city road.

But five hours later, he was freed from the cells to await an appeal against sentence. This will be held at Nottingham Crown Court but a date has not been fixed.

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Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting, said the pursuit began at 9.30am as a Seat Ibiza car was seen heading towards the Hyson Green suburb.

“Officers thought it was going at a rather quick pace and was skidding. It was going at increasing speed above the 30 limit.

“On Burford Road, it was bouncing and the driver struggled to control the vehicle. He went on without giving way at a junction.

“He went towards a tram track on Noel Street. That is a narrow residential street with a tram line down the middle of the road.

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“Without braking, he skidded onto the tram tracks. A tram had recently passed and the last carriage was 50 yards away from that junction,” said Mr Pietryka.

The car then went in the direction of Forest Fields before stopping. Butler, 25, ran off but was detained nearby.

Mr Pietryka added: “It could have resulted in serious consequences for many people due to the manner of the driving.”

Butler, of Ivy Grove, Kirkby, pleaded to dangerous driving on February 21.

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John Pendlebury, mitigating, said: “It was a pretty short pursuit. The officer pointed out that the traffic was light with a limited number of vehicles. There is no suggestion that a tram had to brake sharply.

“The most dangerous aspect is pulling onto a junction and other roads without the necessary precaution.

“This is more a potential danger rather than actual danger.”

As soon as he spoke to police officers, Butler took responsibility for his actions.

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Mr Pendlebury told the court in Nottingham: “In an interview with police officers, he readily admitted that his driving fell far below what it should have been.

“To be honest, this is rather rare in a police interview.” At the time, Butler had a full driving licence and insurance, he added.

As he applied for bail, Mr Pendlebury said that Butler has health problems and spends time looking after his child.

The magistrates heard that Butler has a zero hours contract with an agency and had carried out warehouse work. He does not claim state benefits. A probation report suggested that he should be ordered to attend a course to improve his “thinking skills.”