ASBO driver freed (From Stourbridge News)

ASBO driver freed

12:18pm Monday 5th February 2007 in Local

A KINGSWINFORD man who sped away to escape cops trying to stop his vehicle has avoided a jail term.

Richard Pargeter, aged 22, who breached his anti-social behaviour order for the fifth time when he was involved in the high speed police chase, was given a nine-month term suspended for two years.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday January 26, Recorder Peter Carr said Pargeter, from Portway Close, had a terrible' record for driving offences and the ASBO was there to keep him off the roads.

But he ruled it was not the most serious offence of dangerous driving to come before the courts and noted at the time the ASBO had just four months left to run.

Mr Carr said: "I am just about persuaded you need not go to prison," however he warned Pargeter if he reoffended again he would almost certainly find himself inside.

Pargeter, who admitted driving dangerously, without insurance and breaching the ASBO, was further made the subject of an 18 month supervision order and banned from driving for two years.

Miss Jenny Russell prosecuting said police saw Pargeter driving in Kingswinford and when they tried to stop his vehicle he accelerated away.

A number of oncoming vehicles had to take action to avoid a collision, she said, before Pargeter abandoned his car and ran off on foot only to be caught by a police dog.

Mr Bernard Linnemann defending said it was a short pursuit by the police and he stressed to the court Pargeter was now determined to put his life in order after becoming a father for the first time.