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| Legless driver in 80mph car chase | Legless driver in 80mph car chase |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A double amputee has been jailed for a year after leading police on a high-speed car pursuit, using modified broom handles to control the vehicle. | A double amputee has been jailed for a year after leading police on a high-speed car pursuit, using modified broom handles to control the vehicle. |
| The three-mile chase ended when Robert Bate crashed through a fence near Hawthorn, County Durham, in January. | The three-mile chase ended when Robert Bate crashed through a fence near Hawthorn, County Durham, in January. |
| When officers examined his automatic Vauxhall Astra they found the wooden poles duct-taped to the pedals. | When officers examined his automatic Vauxhall Astra they found the wooden poles duct-taped to the pedals. |
| Bate, 27, of Seventh Street, Blackhall, admitted dangerous driving when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. | Bate, 27, of Seventh Street, Blackhall, admitted dangerous driving when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. |
| The court heard that a marked police car spotted the Astra on a stretch of the B1285 near Hawthorn. | The court heard that a marked police car spotted the Astra on a stretch of the B1285 near Hawthorn. |
| At nine-years-old tragedy took everything from him but he hates to be reliant on anyone Nick Cartmell, defending | At nine-years-old tragedy took everything from him but he hates to be reliant on anyone Nick Cartmell, defending |
| It stopped briefly when police activated their sirens and blue lights, but then sped off unexpectedly towards a retail park in nearby Murton. | It stopped briefly when police activated their sirens and blue lights, but then sped off unexpectedly towards a retail park in nearby Murton. |
| After three miles, the car left the road and careered through a fence and hedgerow before stopping in a farmer's field. | After three miles, the car left the road and careered through a fence and hedgerow before stopping in a farmer's field. |
| Melinda Blackburn, prosecuting, said: "When the Astra was examined, police noticed there was a couple of implements attached to the pedals with ducting tape to help him drive the vehicle due to the fact he is a double amputee. | Melinda Blackburn, prosecuting, said: "When the Astra was examined, police noticed there was a couple of implements attached to the pedals with ducting tape to help him drive the vehicle due to the fact he is a double amputee. |
| "Broom handles were attached to the accelerator and brake pedal." | "Broom handles were attached to the accelerator and brake pedal." |
| Bate, who lost his legs in a rail accident when he was aged nine, had traces of heroin and cocaine in his blood at the time of the incident. | Bate, who lost his legs in a rail accident when he was aged nine, had traces of heroin and cocaine in his blood at the time of the incident. |
| The Astra crashed through a fence into a farmer's field | |
| Nick Cartmell, defending, told the court: "He recognises now that this was a foolish and stupid exercise. | Nick Cartmell, defending, told the court: "He recognises now that this was a foolish and stupid exercise. |
| "At nine-years-old tragedy took everything from him but he hates to be reliant on anyone." | "At nine-years-old tragedy took everything from him but he hates to be reliant on anyone." |
| Two passengers in the Astra at the time were unhurt. | Two passengers in the Astra at the time were unhurt. |
| After hearing how he fled at high speed through former mining villages, Judge David Hodson told him it was a miracle nobody else was injured. | After hearing how he fled at high speed through former mining villages, Judge David Hodson told him it was a miracle nobody else was injured. |
| Bate also admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failing to stop. | Bate also admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failing to stop. |
| In addition to the 12-month jail sentence, he was banned from driving for two years. | In addition to the 12-month jail sentence, he was banned from driving for two years. |