Police chase driver locked up

Mark Corbett (29) who has a prolific record for flouting the rules of the road, had nearly knocked a cyclist off his bike undertaking and clocked up twice the speed limit.

He abandoned the Volkswagon Passat when he hit some street furniture and ran off. Corbett then climbed onto the roof of a bungalow in Kelbrook Drive and threatened to throw slates at officers. Police said an 80-minute stand off took place before Corbett gave himself up peacefully.

The town’s magistrates were told how Corbett had sparked his second police pursuit in as many weeks. On May 31st, he had gone the wrong way found the Hapton roundabout, through red lights and no entry signs and then crashed into a parked car, after failing to stop for officers.

The defendant, whose partner had a baby on Sunday, but was in court on Monday to support him, has now also been banned from driving for 10 years. He must take an extended retest and the justices ordered forfeiture of all vehicles.

Corbett, of Percy Street, Accrington, was in breach of a suspended sentence imposed earlier in May for driving whilst disqualified. He had been banned last year for drink driving. The Bench activated the 12-week suspended term.

He also admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and failing to stop on May 31st and was given 26 weeks to run consecutively for those offences.

Corbett further pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and failing to stop and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, committed on June 13th. He was given another 26 weeks on top for the latest crimes.

Prosecutor Miss Alex Mann said the pursuit on May 31st was on a Sunday afternoon in a built-up area. Corbett had headed to Hapton from Accrington Road, overtaking. As well as ignoring red lights and no entry signs, he went at 50mph over speed bumps.

The incident on Saturday evening started near Cliviger and ended when Corbett eventually came down from the roof.

Miss Mann said the defendant had one previous conviction for dangerous driving, two for drink driving, several for driving whilst disqualified and one for affray.

Peter King (defending) said he realised he would be going to prison. The solicitor said hopefully, when he came out, the defendant was going to grow up and be a better father.