Danger driver flipped dad's car then tried to drag unconscious girlfriend from boot

Matthew Ord claimed he had been drinking due to nerves about making a wedding speech when he got behind the wheel of his dad's car without permission.

Newcastle Crown Court heard other road users saw him tearing down the wrong side of the road in South Shields at twice the speed limit before he lost control and turned the car over at a roundabout.

He kicked the windscreen out to escape the Peugeot and then tried to drag his unconscious partner out of the back of the car.

When members of the public tried to stop him pulling the woman out of the car, he became aggressive and threatening.

Ord, 29, of Buxton Close, Jarrow, was sentenced to six months suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work and a two year driving ban. after he admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, having no insurance and failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis.

The court heard it was around 12.50am on June 7 when two witnesses saw Ord driving on Prince Edward Road, South Shields.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said one witness saw the vehicle approach on the wrong side of the road and added: "He describes the engine as screaming and hesaid it was doing no less than 60mph in the 30mph zone.

"His immediate thought was the driver was trying to kill himself.

"The defendant made no attempt to stop or slow down and as a consequence hit a pedestrian island on the wrong side of Prince Edward Road then continued the wrong way round the roundabout, colliding with the roundabout and the car rolled onto its roof and came to a rest on its side after hitting pedestrian railings.

"The other occupant was a female who appeared unresponsive and the defendant went to the rear and tried to drag the female out via the boot of the car.

"Members of the public tried to stop the defendant and he became threatening and aggressive and continued trying to drag the female, I think his girlfriend, from the car."

A second witness described Ord as being "massively in excess" of the speed limit then hearing a bang.

The woman suffered a cut to her head and later discharged herself from hospital, the court heard.

The car was written off.

Ord, who has 36 previous convictions, was sentenced to six months suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work and a two year driving ban.

Recorder Jennifer Carter-Manning said: "The accounts of the witnesses are you drove extremely dangerously and one thought you must be trying to killyourself.

"It's quite obvious you and the public were lucky nobody was more seriously injured."

Helen Towers, defending, said Ord, who has 36 previous convictions, admitted having a "couple of pints" as he was nervous about making a speech at a wedding and he drove afterwards.

She added Ord’s relationship with his ex partner ended after she was injured.