Jail for banned driver who crashed car and ran off

Robert Ganley (21) passed close to a police vehicle, containing officers who were aware he had been ordered off the road. They followed him and Ganley crashed into a parked car, pushing it onto the pavement and up against the front gate of a house. He then ran off, but was arrested not long after.

Burnley Crown Court was told Ganley was caught on November 30th. He had only been banned October 20th, when he received a suspended jail term after being convicted of dangerous driving.

The defendant has now been locked up for seven months, after a judge said what he had done was “practically an immediate breach” of the order.

Ganley, of Pheasantford Street, Burnley, had admitted driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop after an accident and no insurance, in breach of the suspended term and had been committed for sentence by magistrates. He was banned for two years.

Mr Paul Brookwell (prosecuting) said October 20th, the defendant was given four months in jail, suspended for 18 months, disqualified for 18 months and ordered to take an extended test. He had been convicted of dangerous driving and assault with intent to resist arrest.

At almost 10pm, on November 30th, two police officers in the Briercliffe Road area of Burnley saw a Renault Megane being driven by Ganley, with four young men on board. Mr Brookwell continued: “He was known to the police officers and they knew he was disqualified. As the car passed the front of the police vehicle, the officers followed.”

They found the Renault crashed in Cardinal Street. The defendant had left the scene, but was arrested at about 10-40pm, on the Padiham by-pass. Ganley made no comment when interviewed. He had 14 offences on his record, including violence.

Richard Taylor (defending) said: “He has breached the order and he knows he’s going to custody.”

The solicitor said it was the defendant’s friend’s car, four of them were in it and he accepted he was driving. Mr Taylor added: “This is a defendant who does have significant literacy and learning difficulties.”

Sentencing, Recorder Timothy Hannam told Ganley it may be that he had been very lucky to receive a suspended sentence.

He continued: “There was no need for you to be driving. You just felt like it. You saw a police car, made off, crashed, ran off and were arrested nearby.”