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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Road rage' marquess sent to jail | 'Road rage' marquess sent to jail |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| An aristocrat who admitted three driving charges including a road rage attack on another motorist's car has been jailed for six months. | An aristocrat who admitted three driving charges including a road rage attack on another motorist's car has been jailed for six months. |
| The Marquess of Blandford, Charles Spencer-Churchill, was jailed on charges of dangerous driving, careless driving and causing criminal damage. | |
| He admitted the offences at an earlier hearing at Oxford Crown Court. | He admitted the offences at an earlier hearing at Oxford Crown Court. |
| The Duke of Marlborough's son, commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is currently being treated at the Priory Hospital. | The Duke of Marlborough's son, commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is currently being treated at the Priory Hospital. |
| The court heard how the marquess, aged 51, of Wootton Downs, Oxford, had "retreated into a life of drugs". | |
| Driving like yours is decidedly criminal Judge David Morton Jack | |
| His doctor at the hospital in London had said his progress would be "undermined" by a custodial sentence. | |
| But Judge David Morton Jack said: "There cannot be one standard for the unhappy and another for those settled in life. | |
| "Driving like yours is decidedly criminal. You are completely responsible and completely culpable for your driving. | |
| "It is perhaps a partial explanation, but it is no mitigation to say at the time of the driving you were under personal stress. | |
| "Your driving was deliberate and the very word danger informs of the potential for injury." | |
| At the time of the offences the Marquess was battling with a number of personal crises, including a split from his wife and a relapse into drug taking, the court heard. | |
| Rachel Drake, prosecuting, said the first offence took place on the M42 motorway on 16 June last year, when a police patrol spotted his Range Rover Sport on the northbound carriageway. | Rachel Drake, prosecuting, said the first offence took place on the M42 motorway on 16 June last year, when a police patrol spotted his Range Rover Sport on the northbound carriageway. |
| Video footage | Video footage |
| She said the officer noticed it was driving extremely close to the vehicle in front and was "undertaking, straddling the lanes and meandering across the road". | |
| The court was then shown video footage from inside the police car which showed the Range Rover moving in and out of traffic without indicating before pulling on to a slip road. | The court was then shown video footage from inside the police car which showed the Range Rover moving in and out of traffic without indicating before pulling on to a slip road. |
| The police car reached speeds of 95mph to catch up with the marquess. | |
| Ms Drake said that at the time the speed limit was fluctuating between 40mph and 60mph. | Ms Drake said that at the time the speed limit was fluctuating between 40mph and 60mph. |
| Judge Morton Jack ordered the Marquess to pay £2,577 costs and pass an extended driving test when his three-and-a-half year disqualification ends. | |
| He said he accepted that drink or drugs had not played any part in any of the offences. |