Dangerous driver charged with multiple driving offences after being caught by police doing 93mph in 30mph zone

On Saturday, September 28, officers were deployed alongside a police helicopter to track down a speeding car and it’s driver in the Ashington area to put a stop to his dangerous action before anyone was injured.

Astin Martin O’Brien, 30, driving a Ford Fiesta, who was already under a driving ban, had no insurance or licence at the time and reached speeds of up to 93mph in a 30mph zone, recklessly drove through built up streets before colliding with a wall and then attempted to flee on foot.

O’Brien was arrested shortly after and failed to provide a specimen after officers suspected him of being under the influence.

In December, 2019, O’Brien, of Disraeli Street in Blyth admitted to failing to provide a specimen at the scene and was jailed for eight weeks by the Magistrates' Court and banned from driving for three years.

O'Brien appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Thursday, February 27 charged with a string of driving offences.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance or licence and failing to stop and was sentenced to an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Superintendent Helena Barron, from Northumbria Police, said: “O’Brien was incredibly lucky that no one was injured by his extremely dangerous and reckless driving.

“He was already banned from driving from previous convictions and therefore had no insurance or licence at the time of the incident.

“His actions risked the lives of the officers trying to stop him and the lives of others. Hopefully this time he will see how deadly the consequences of his actions could have been and thinks again before getting behind the wheel.

“He might be called Astin Martin but he’s no James Bond and he’ll need to get used to public transport for the time being.”