8:00am Wednesday 21st July 2010
A WORRIED Kington mother rang police in the early hours when her emotionally upset teenage son drove off in her car after drinking heavily, a court was told.
Two officers soon spotted the Vauxhall driven by Tamarick Brito and followed him as he drove at 70mph through a builtup area.
When he stopped after hitting a grass bank, he became aggressive and had to be subdued with CS gas before being handcuffed, said Laura Culley, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.
Brito, aged 19, of Church Street, Kington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to co-operate with police for a breath test, driving while affected by drink and without insurance, and failing to stop.
He was sentenced to nine months’ detention, suspended for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 15 months and ordered to pay £250 court costs.
Miss Culley said his mother rang 999 last December because she suspected he had suicidal tendencies after drinking.
Brito failed to stop when followed by police with their blue lights on and he drove the wrong way round a roundabout, crossed double white lines and was on the wrong side of the road on blind bends.
He challenged police when he was stopped and was only arrested after a struggle.
A crate of lager was found in the car and he refused to take a breath test. He made a no comment interview.
Michael Aspinall, defending, said Brito was suffering from anxiety and depression after separating from his long-term partner.
He had recently left hospital after taking an overdose and was suicidal after an argument with his mother.
But it was not a prolonged piece of bad driving and fortunately noone was injured.
Brito had since turned his life around and had obtained a college place to train as a fitness instructor.
Recorder John Butterfield said it was laudable for Brito’s mother to contact the police.
Brito must take an extended test before he can drive again.
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