'Intelligent' drug-addict involved in 'dangerous' high-speed chase by police dodges jail

David Heard, 33, caused mayhem on the roads of Bognor on April 20 as cars were forced to swerve out of way from the speeding menace as he weaved in and out of traffic and careered down the wrong side of the road before ploughing into a vehicle.

Portsmouth Crown Court was told how Heard snubbed a request from police to pull over in his Volkswagen Golf after having no insurance.

Carnage then ensued as Heard made his way off through Waverley Road before revving down 20mph zones doing more than twice the speed limit at 50mph.

Road-users were forced to take evasive action when Heard flew down the B2166 towards Chichester. The defendant’s desperate attempt to escape the clutches of the law saw him to continue his hapless getaway attempt despite having a deflated tyre.

‘Cars were forced to swerve out of the way and go on grass verges to avoid his vehicle,’ prosecutor Paul Farley told the court.

‘Police put down stop stick tyre deflation but even that did not appear to work. Cars were forced to take evasive action.

‘Mr Heard struck a car as he forced his way through traffic before his car finally came to standstill. He had no insurance and appeared to be under the influence of drugs and gave a positive drugs roadside test.’

The court was told Heard, of Pevensey Road, Bognor, had previous convictions for possessing cannabis and driving without a licence.

Defending, Pierce Power, said Heard panicked when he saw the police. Pleading for his client to be spared jail the lawyer said: ‘It is a shame that an intelligent, polite and mild mannered man is as close as he is to prison.

‘He recognises that he will be lucky to walk out of the front door of the court. But I ask you to suspend the sentence. He is not a career criminal and has not been in trouble for a number of years.

‘The offence was born out of panic when police followed him.’

But Mr Power admitted: ‘He knows his driving could have wrecked lives and is worthy of a custodial sentence.’

The court was told how Heard had lost his last job due to his ‘heavy drug intake’ but had now stopped using illicit substances and had secured a new job.

Recorder Alexia Power told Heard: ‘It was a prolonged course of terrible driving that put the public in real danger.

‘It was complicated by the fact you were on drugs and had no insurance.’

But Heard, who was armed with a bag in preparation for jail, was allowed to keep his freedom after admitting dangerous driving, driving while under the influence of drugs and having no insurance.

Instead he was given a 10 month jail term suspended for 18 months and told to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 15 rehabilitation days.

Heard was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.