Man jailed for 'frankly appalling' driving
Claudia Robinson - North East and Cumbria
Thu, December 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM UTC
1 min read
A "frankly appalling" driver who led police on a high speed pursuit has been jailed for two and a half years.
John McElvaney, 32 and of Richmond Court in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, reached 65mph in a 30mph zone before crashing and trying to flee on foot on 17 October, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard.
When he was arrested, he was found in possession of two bags of cocaine and a machete-style knife.
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He admitted six offences including dangerous driving and possession of Class A drugs.
The court heard McElvaney had 19 previous convictions, many of them for driving offences, and was in breach of a previous nine-month suspended sentence for affray.
Judge Advocate Edward Legard told McElvaney the manner of his driving was "frankly appalling" and it was "only by good fortune that serious injury or death was avoided".
McElvaney's crimes came a day after what police described as a night of "horrific violence" in Richmond Court when shots were fired, a car was driven into a home and another set on fire.
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