Moment police RAM danger driver now jailed for 22 months

Moment police RAM danger driver now jailed for 22 months after he twice dodged patrol cars by turning his lights off

  • Michael Bellerby, 36, jailed for 22 months after he drove at speed on the A189 
  • He managed to evade police twice by turning off lights and driving in the dark 
  • Bellerby arrested after police patrol car ‘made contact’ with his Toyota Yaris 

Michael Bellerby, 36, was jailed for 22 months after he got behind the wheel of his girlfriend’s Toyota Yaris

Dramatic footage has captured the moment police rammed into a dangerous driver after he twice dodged patrol cars by turning his lights off and driving in the dark.   

Michael Bellerby, 36, was jailed for 22 months after he got behind the wheel of his girlfriend’s Toyota Yaris and drove at speed on the A189 near Newcastle.

Bellerby, who was banned from driving at the time, managed to evade police twice by turning off his lights and driving in the dark, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Amy Levitt told the court how Bellerby had rammed a police car and caused damage to a wall during the dangerous journey, which resulted in the police helicopter being deployed. 

The motorist, who had travelled on the wrong side of the carriageway and sped through residential areas, was arrested after he lost control and a police car ‘made contact’ with the Yaris.

Dashcam footage shows the dramatic pursuit, before a patrol car collides with Bellerby’s Yaris outside a shop.   

Bellerby, who was banned from driving at the time, managed to evade police twice by turning off his lights and driving in the dark, Newcastle Crown Court heard

Bellerby, who was banned from driving at the time, managed to evade police twice by turning off his lights and driving in the dark, Newcastle Crown Court heard

The court heard how the motorist tried to flee on foot but was caught in a nearby garden.

Bellerby, from Newcastle, admitted dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and aggravated vehicle taking.

He also admitted an unrelated charge of fraud by false representation in relation to his use of stolen bank cards.

Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford QC sentenced him to a total of 22 months behind bars following the dramatic incident last November.

Dashcam footage shows the dramatic pursuit, before a patrol car collides with Bellerby's Yaris outside a shop. Pictured: The moment before the collision

Dashcam footage shows the dramatic pursuit, before a patrol car collides with Bellerby’s Yaris outside a shop. Pictured: The moment before the collision

The judge said the driving involved ‘three chases in one evening’.

John Wilkinson, defending, said Bellerby had ‘panicked’ when he saw the police and had not want the officers to seize his girlfriend’s car, which ended up severely damaged.

Mr Wilkinson said: ‘CCTV actually shows the defendant’s vehicle is stationary, it has come to a stop. 

‘It is side-on and the police vehicle drives straight into the side of the stationary vehicle driven by the defendant.’

He added: ‘To suggest the defendant was ramming a police car is, perhaps, not an accurate description of what actually went on.’