Drink driver jailed after crashing stolen police car

A drunk driver has been jailed for stealing a police car and crashing into oncoming traffic – while bound by handcuffs.

Dominic O’Neill, 37, was pulled over by police after he was seen driving his Vauxhall Zafira erratically at 1pm on October 21.

He was given a breath test and blew 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the limit is 35mcg.

Officers handcuffed the dad-of-seven and put him in the back of the police car.

But while the officers were distracted with other people in his car, O’Neill climbed into the front seats, locked the doors and drove off before smashing into two vehicles.

After being arrested for a second time, O’Neill, of Leicester, told officers: ‘I didn’t mean to crash – it’s hard driving in handcuffs.’

A drunk driver has been jailed at Leicester Crown Court for stealing a police car and crashing into oncoming traffic – while bound by handcuffs

He was jailed for a total of 16 months after he admitted aggravated vehicle taking and drink driving at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday (22/11).

He was also given a two-month sentence for driving while disqualified which will run concurrently and banned from driving for four years and eight months.

Addressing O’Neill, Recorder Martin Hurst: ‘You have an appalling record for driving. You were up to your old ways on October 21.

‘You were stopped and breathalysed and that is where it should have ended, but you thought you were being clever. I do not accept you panicked.

‘You drove off wearing handcuffs doubtless thinking it was an amusing story to tell your friends.

‘It is not an amusing story to tell your seven children.

Dominic O'Neill, 37, was pulled over by police after he was seen driving his Vauxhall Zafira erratically at 1pm on October 21

Dominic O’Neill, 37, was pulled over by police after he was seen driving his Vauxhall Zafira erratically at 1pm on October 21

‘What kind of an example are you setting them?’

O’Neill replied to the judge: ‘Not a very good one.’

Prosecutor Rebecca Coleman said O’Neill tried to run off after the crash, but was arrested a short distance away.

She told the court: ‘When he was being driven back to the police station he told one of the officers, ‘I didn’t mean to crash the car. It’s hard driving in handcuffs. It’s the other officer’s fault for leaving the keys in the car.’

One of the officers smashed a side window to try and stop him, while his colleague suffered a wrist injury when he held onto the door handle.

O’Neill sped off but crashed into a Volkswagen and BMW a few streets away after clipping the kerb and careering over a roundabout.

Michelle Harding, defending, said: ‘The best mitigation that can be put forward is his early guilty plea.

‘I can say he was in the back of the police car and panicked. He knew he would be arrested for driving while disqualified and would be over the limit.’ 

 

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