Banned driver crashed mum's car after speeding through red light during high-speed police chase

Katie Shone, 32, was already disqualified from driving at the time, but took her mother's Seat Leon car and began to drive it in an out of control manner on the A194 road near South Shields.

The chase on August 13 last year only came to a halt when Shone drove through a red traffic light and crashed into a Mini Cooper.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that officers in an unmarked police car were alerted to another vehicle driving too fast on the A194, which then failed to stop.

Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said the defendant was already subject to a 14-month disqualification for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2018, and did not have consent to get behind the wheel of her mother's vehicle.

Mr Wardlaw said: "Between August 12 and 23 the mother was on holiday with the car left at her home address.

"She gave no permission for the defendant to use her vehicle particularly because the mother was aware she was disqualified.

"The police became aware of the vehicle driving with some speed ... then it drove along the hash markings on the road.

"The defendant later did a U-turn to travel in the opposite direction, when the officers activated their blue lights and indicated her to stop which she did not, driving away in excess of 60mph.

"As she came to a roundabout on the A194 the vehicle failed to stop and crashed into the front rear of a Mini Cooper car."

The court heard that Shone, of Ryton Court, South Shields, and her passenger were taken to hospital as were the two occupants of the Mini, where one person needed treatment for an injury to abdominal muscle and broken teeth.

Shone admitted charges of aggregated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance as well as dangerous driving and was handed a 13-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Mitigating, Kevin O'Brien told the court it was lucky that nobody was seriously injured or killed, but asked the court to take into account Shone's life when she was a child.

He said: "There was an awful accident and it is only of good fortune we have nobody killed or injured in either vehicle.

"I won't repeat what happened in her childhood but it is clear it had life alternating impacts on her.

"It completely took away the chance she had of growing and developing to make something of her life."

The court heard that Shone has had issues with her mental health and drug addiction, but hadn't always seeked the relevant help.

The sentence also included rehabilitation requirements of 30 days with an additional 12 months of drug services.

Judge Sarah Mallet told Shone that she needed the help to get better.

She said: "You drove into a Mini motor vehicle and caused extensive damage.

"You and your passenger were injured and all those things expected to happen if you drive that way did happen, and it was fortunate it was not worse.

"However, it is clear that you have a number of mental health problems but have not always received the help available."

As well as the sentence, Shone has been banned from driving for a further two years and must complete an extended driving test to gain her license back.

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