Judge who let off mother, 30, over a 70mph car chase because she has a daughter, 10, now says she doesn’t have to complete her community service either after she claimed she has a ‘mood disorder’
- Patricia Swain, 30, from Sale, faced up to two years in prison after police chase
- The mother was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work but failed to turn up
- She was arrested but avoided community service over ‘anxiety and depression’
Patricia Swain, 30, had faced up to two years in prison after she careered down wrong side of a dual carriageway
A mother who was spared jail over a high-speed car chase because she has a young daughter has now been let off community service for the crime after she claimed she has a ‘mood disorder’ caused by debt.
Patricia Swain, 30, faced up to two years in prison after she careered down wrong side of a dual carriageway at 70mph during a police pursuit while a male passenger dangled from an open door.
Swain, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was arrested after the car hit a central reservation and she attempted to run off.
A judge told the mother, who is a full time carer for her 10-year-old daughter, that her young child ‘saved her’ from prison.
She admitted dangerous driving and having no driving licence, escaped with a four month jail term suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work.
But she only completed 35 hours of the unpaid work before failing to turn up for appointments with probation officials – and was arrested again six months later 230 miles away in Exeter.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Swain faced jail again after she admitted breaching the unpaid work order.
But the same judge ditched the penalty altogether after she claimed she had been suffering anxiety, depression and a ‘mood disorder’ after getting into debt following her conviction.
She will instead wear an electronic tag for two months as part of a 7pm-7am curfew.
Sentencing Judge Lever told Swain she had a ‘lucky escape’ from sentencing despite her ‘playing fast and loose’.
Swain, from Sale, Greater Manchester, was arrested after the car hit a central reservation and she attempted to run off
He said: ‘My recollection was that I gave this young lady a good talking to and made it quite clear she had to do this order and that her 10-year-old child wouldn’t save her from jail if she didn’t do it.
‘I took an exceptional case not jailing her but she needs help. I am not amused by her driving but if she’s a sensitive human she might need all the help she can get from the probation service.
‘And I can’t have a situation like this where she plays fast and loose. Although I am running out of road, the last thing I want to do if she is distressed is to take the ultimate sentence.’
He told Swain: ‘I think you understand you had a lucky escape last time and that I understand that depression and anxiety are very debilitating. I don’t want to see you again, please.’
Swain was arrested in October 2018 when officers noticed a black Vauxhall Astra travelling at speed in the Stretford area of Manchester at 4am.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Swain faced jail again after she admitted breaching the unpaid work order
Police chased the car at speeds of 70mph before seeing the passenger door open and a man trying to escape with his legs hanging out.
They drove down a very narrow road and were blocked in by police before the passenger climbed out of the vehicle while it was still moving and fell onto the pavement.
The car drove into the central reservation in order to avoid a collision with a HGV.
Prosecutor Alistair Reed said: ‘Following her court appearance she failed to attend appointments in August and there was significant lack of communication with Miss Swain from then.
‘A bench warrant was issued and she later appeared from a police station in Exeter after she being identified as being wanted.’
In mitigation defence lawyer Michael Lavery said Swain had been in Devon looking after a sick relative.
He added: ‘She had lost her work and then spiralled into debt and has been affected by anxiety and depression.
‘Everything has spiralled out of control and she’s now on universal credit. The issue is she is unwell and not fit to work – although she doesn’t appear suicidal.
‘I ask the court to give her one more chance. She’s desperate not to have to come back here and she’s keen to express her remorse for being here. She has completed 35 hours out of the 80 so far. She has a mood disorder and anxiety and depression.’