A dangerous driver caused serious injury to a police officer after smashing head-on into his car during a County Durham chase.
Christopher John Nash took off from police when they attempted to pull him over in Peterlee in the early hours of June 17, last year. But the 41-year-old led them on a high-speed chase through County Durham, hitting speeds of up to 100mph.
The pursuit finally came to an abrupt end when Nash crashed head-on into a police car, knocking one of the officers unconscious and breaking his wrist. The crash was so severe, both police officers had to be cut out of their car. When Nash was caught, a roadside test showed he'd been taking cocaine, but he refused to give a blood sample back at the station.
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Nash, 41, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, and refusing to provide a sample. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.
John Crawford, prosecuting, said police were on patrol in Peterlee shortly before 1am when Nash was seen driving a Ford Focus at speed. "Police pursued the vehicle, however it failed to stop", he said. "The defendant drove at speeds in excess of 100mph in 70mph zones and the police car backed off due to the risk of continuing the pursuit in such a manner. Other police units were notified and the defendant was located again and the pursuit resumed."
Mr Crawford said that the police said Nash had a "total disregard" for road safety as he travelled at "significant speed in restricted areas". The chase finally ended when Nash, who was driving on the wrong side of the road, pulled out of a back lane near Coronation Street in Murton and crashed head-on into a police car.
The court heard that both officers in the police car sustained injuries, but one suffered "significant injury" and lost consciousness. The officers also had to be cut out of the car. Immediately after the crash, Nash and his passenger fled the scene, but were later caught hiding in a nearby lock up. A roadside test was then carried out, with Nash testing positive for cocaine - however, he refused to provide a blood sample back at the station.
Mr Crawford said both police officers involved in the crash had to go to hospital, with one sustaining a broken wrist and tissue damage - he also "walked with a limp" for a period of time following the crash. In a victim statement, the officer said he suffers from flashbacks and had to resign from the police support unit as a result.
The court heard that Nash, whose address is listed as HMP Durham, had 16 previous convictions for 33 offences, including drug driving matters dating back to 2016.
Richard Herrmann, defending, said Nash has a teenage son and is "heavily involved in his upbringing". He said: "He was not working at the time of the offences and has subsequently been offered a job in a garage as an apprentice mechanic. He understands now he will not be able to do that because of the likely period of incarceration and disqualification from driving.
"In short, by his own terrible actions, he's caused significant damage to his own life and has had a negative impact on his family and those who surround him. He deeply regrets that." Mr Herrmann added: "He wishes to express his sincere determination to lead a law abiding life when he is released from his sentence and he deeply regrets the impact of his appalling choices."
Sentencing Nash, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said he was driving at "grossly excessive speed" and that the impact of his offending "has been significant". Nash was jailed for 26 months and banned from driving for three years.
Releasing a statement following the sentencing, a Durham Constabulary spokesman, said: “This was a nasty incident in which Nash has made off from the police and driven at speed along public roads, showing a total disregard for the safety of other road users. He has crashed head-on into a marked police vehicle, then made off from the car on foot whilst the officers required medical attention.
“He was detained a short distance away and his DNA was recovered from the driver’s airbag. I am pleased that he received the custodial sentence his offending deserved.”
