A man who overtook a school bus forcing it to brake during a 10km pursuit by Gardai has been jailed for six months.
Stephen Flood, 23, appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with various driving offences on March 20th last.
The court heard how Gardai had set up a checkpoint at Termon and were approached by a red car which signalled to slow down but sped up and then drove through it.
Gardai immediately pursued the driver and were led on a chase which lasted for more than 10 kilometres and reached speeds of up to 150kph.
Garda Inspector Sean Grant said “He overtook two vehicles on continuous white lines while travelling between 100 and 150kph.
“He then overtook a school bus which had to brake before striking a VW Passat but failed to stop.
“He narrowly avoided another collision before he eventually lost control and crashed into a ditch.”
Flood’s solicitor, Mr Patsy Galagher, told the court that his client had stupidly taken the car to get petrol in it.
He said his client will pay the damage of €890 to the owner of the VW Passat and asked for a probation report on the incident and the possibility of Flood getting Community Service.
He added that his client had poor health and was battling addiction issues.
However, Judge Paul Kelly pointed out that Flood, of Carnasaul, Termon, was already disqualified during the time of the chase.
Judge Kelly commented “He is lucky that he is not here on more serious charges. In fact, he’s lucky that he’s here at all.”
He sentenced Flood to six months in prison for driving while disqualified and banned him from driving for four years.
He also sentenced him to six months in prison for driving through a Grada checkpoint and banned him from driving for another four years while he also imposed two further three month sentences for damaging another car and for dangerous driving during the chase.
All sentences are to run concurrently.