'Lunatic' drink-driver in high-speed chase around Cheltenham
DRINK-DRIVER Adrian Eyre panicked and led police on a "lunatic" four-minute high-speed chase through the residential streets of Cheltenham.
The 42-year-old's dangerous driving at 8.30pm on September 15 put people at risk of injury of "even worse", Gloucester Crown Court was told.
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Adrian Eyre
Eyre, of Salisbury Avenue, Warden Hill, had been at a wedding at the racecourse and was driving at more than one-and-a-half times the alcohol limit.
Prosecutor Lisa Hennessy said police had been alerted to his driving by concerned members of the public. A patrol car overtook him at the traffic lights in Gloucester Road and pulled in front of him with blue lights flashing.
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But he then sped away in his Audi, driving through red traffic lights and going onto the wrong side of the road as he reached speeds of more than double the 30mph limit.
She showed the court CCTV taken from the pursuing police car as it followed Eyre along roads including Overton Park Road, Douro Road, Andover Road, Hatherley Road and Warden Hill Road.
The car hit a kerb, causing damage, and the CCTV showed sparks and smoke coming from it until it eventually came to a halt and Eyre was arrested after a struggle.
A breath test gave a reading of 62mcgs. The legal limit is 35mcgs.
Eyre pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and having excess alcohol on his breath.
At the time of the offence, Eyre was on parole licence from jail following a blackmail sentence in 2008.
Sabhia Pathan, defending, said: "He was so ashamed of his behaviour that he took the car to a scrapyard afterwards."
Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Eyre that most drunken dangerous drivers who did what he did would go to jail.
Instead, he sentenced Eyre to nine months jail suspended for two years, placed him under supervision for 18 months and sent him on a drink driving course.
He also ordered Eyre to do 100 hours of unpaid work and placed him under home curfew 8pm-6am for two months. Eyre was also banned from driving for two years, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £250 costs.
"This was lunacy and inexcusable," said the judge.
In 2008, Eyre was sentenced to five years in jail for his part in a terrifying blackmail ordeal. He was one of a group of men who met a man advertising his Mercedes car for sale.
They met in a layby where, dressed in balaclavas and gloves, they demanded £20,000 and threatened to throw acid over his girlfriend if he did not pay up. They drove the victim to his father's house for money but could not get in. They kicked and punched him and left him in the layby.
Comments
by CrowDog
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 11:23AM
“What a Muppet, Does any one know if it was his Audi Smashed up behind Co-op Shops in Warden HIll ?”
by Tanya_little
Saturday, November 17 2012, 7:32AM
“he has other convictions, but plenty more in the way of receiving stealing and selling stolen goods the police dont know about!..ugly fat freak needs a house search!”
by SamHane
Friday, November 16 2012, 4:24PM
“Total scum bag, nuff said !!!”
by Don-Trigger
Friday, November 16 2012, 3:59PM
“Is it me or does this absolute cretin look a bit like frank sidebottom!”
by bonzaharris1
Friday, November 16 2012, 1:47PM
“What do you have to do do these days to get a prison sentence .... not pay your taxes or TV license usually !! This idiot is 42, old enough to be expected to behave in a responsible manner. But no, he goes to a wedding and drinks alcohol, knowing his car is in the car park. For members of the public to ring the police, he must have been driving pretty erratically, so a bit inebriated then, He engages in a police chase, because he is stupid and drunk enough to think he can outrun them. He could have easily killed someone, and its by the grace of god he doesn't. Police do their job, and take him to court. Then, its down to Judge Tabor, who after saying, "that most drunken dangerous drivers who did what he did would go to jail". Following that up with, this was lunacy and inexcusable, then lets him off with a 100 hours unpaid work, and a curfew and driving ban. Wow that told him, still Eyre is such a nice man as Jermemy says. He only got 5 years jail four years ago for blackmail, threats and beating up his victim, and demanding £20,000, so not long out of clink then. Yeah jermemy quality bloke, glad you love him.”
by QwertyOS
Friday, November 16 2012, 1:18PM
“Jermemy or Jeremy, the chances are that you are just a wind up. However, if you really are a genuine ``close friend`` of his, and do love him, then I wish you all the best in the future as you two obviously belong to, and deserve one another. I really am sorry that I cannot make it to your Civil Ceremony.”
by NibNobs
Friday, November 16 2012, 1:00PM
“jermemy1975, you can do better than him. Next time it'll be jail for him and you will find someone else better & more honest whilst he's inside. Guaranteed.”
by raidermanuk
Friday, November 16 2012, 12:39PM
“"Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Eyre that most drunken dangerous drivers who did what he did would go to jail"
Exactly where this low life should have gone. Soft sentencing yet again.”
by RonSlater
Friday, November 16 2012, 12:12PM
“Oh Jermemy_1975. Oh no, prepare for a bit of a verbal kick in I'm afraid! I think you'll find that the average member of the public doesn't feel they need to know (or indeed want to know!) a person who has been found guilty of this man's crimes, in order to pass judgement on him.
PS, Is your name Jeremy, but you just dont know how to spell it? If that's the case, I assume you're no older than about 4 and I'm wondering why this man is such good friends with a 4 year old......”
by jermemy_1975
Friday, November 16 2012, 12:04PM
“Your all ********s, don't even know him! A low life chav, alright then! Knocked a kid of his bike? Wasn't his fault? He's a quality bloke and love him! I'm glad he didn't go jail:)”