A 24-year-old Nigerian, Princely Imara, has been jailed for 4 and half
years, after filming a 'selfie' at 120mph while chasing a police car. He
was also banned from driving for 4 years.
Princely started following the vehicle at high speed
after he spotted it heading toward an emergency incident, with its
sirens blaring, on the A20 in Ashford, Kent.
He filmed the entire incident on camera, but the footage was only discovered after he was involved in another chase - this time, along the M2 at 130mph - a month later, which resulted in a crash.
He filmed the entire incident on camera, but the footage was only discovered after he was involved in another chase - this time, along the M2 at 130mph - a month later, which resulted in a crash.
In the later incident, two officers noticed Imara drive past them at
high speed. He was driving 'erratically', even swerving onto the hard
shoulder, Canterbury Crown Court heard.
Imara then re-joined the carriageway on the M2 near Sittingbourne, Kent,
behind the officers' vehicle and overtook them. He was pulled over and
spoken to by the cops, the court heard.
Simon Taylor, prosecuting, told the court: 'The officers got out and spoke to Imara who was aggressive and obstructive.
'His demeanour raised concerns after he stated he had recently been
detained under the Mental Health Act - and he said this while still
filming the officers on his mobile phone.'
While the officers carried out checks, Imara sped off, reaching a top
speed of 130mph. He was finally caught after he crashed into a roadside
barrier, causing £2,600 worth of damage.
The footage of the earlier incident, where the convicted drug dealer and
burglar had launched into a rant about the police, was discovered after
his mobile phone was seized and examined. Mara has been jailed for four
and a half years on a variety of charges.
He had admitted seven drug offenses, burglary, handling stolen goods,
three charges of driving dangerously, five charges of resisting a police
officer and driving without a license and insurance.
Sentencing Imara, Judge Adele Williams told him: 'This was appalling
driving in which you showed no regard for the safety of others -
including police officers who were doing no more than their duty.' The
defendant, of Shepway, Kent, was also banned from driving for four
years.
He will have to take a re-test before he is allowed to get back behind the wheel of a car.
He will have to take a re-test before he is allowed to get back behind the wheel of a car.