A Little Blakenham man received over three years in jail for crashing into a hedge while already banned from driving.
He went to Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. They sentenced him to 42 months in jail, and his driving ban lasts until 2028.
Gillingham admitted to six offenses. These included driving while banned twice and having no insurance twice. He also drove without care once, and he didn’t give driver details once.
He was in court before on November 7 and got a suspended sentence then. It was 22 weeks, suspended for two years. His driving was banned until late 2028 for earlier driving offenses.
Police hope this sends a message to drivers: don’t drive when banned. Police want safe roads in Suffolk and are removing drivers like Gillingham.
Gillingham bought a car online on January 5 and drove to Telford to get it. He left another car behind there, and someone picked that car up later.
Police saw Gillingham driving on January 10. He sped off to avoid them, and his car crashed into a hedge soon after in Whitton Church Lane. He left the crash scene quickly.
Police found the car was his. An officer went to his home and spoke to him on a doorbell camera. Gillingham said he was at a pub far away.
The officer went to a nearby pub and saw Gillingham run outside. The officer chased and caught him. Gillingham denied driving the car.
They released him on bail and ordered him to name the driver in 28 days. Police arrested him again on Monday because he didn’t name the driver; it was about the Shropshire case too.
He was charged and held for court. He must pay £239 in costs for court and other charges.