Northampton Crown Court hears banned motorist who drove at police hopes to ‘turn legit’ - once he gets out of jail

A disqualified driver who aimed his car at a police vehicle at speed has been jailed for ten months.

Tommy O’Hagan, 37, was watched by officers as he came out of a convenience store towards the driver’s side of a Ford KA parked on double yellow lines.

They recognised him as a banned driver and he spotted them before walking away from the car, Northampton Crown Court heard on Thursday (May 19).

Officers drove off to try to catch up with him but CCTV operators spotted the defendant return to the car, get in and drive off.

He spent twenty minutes driving around Wellingborough town centre at excess speeds before making his way to his home in Penrith Drive. He had been driving at speeds between 40mph and 50mph in a 20mph zone.

Police were waiting for him and blocked the road with their car.

As he saw them, he drove his KA at them at around 30mph, swerving only at the last minute on to the footpath and a green area between two houses. Police caught up with him at his house where they found the damaged car.

O’Hagan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with no licence nor insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence following the incident on April 27, 2020.

The court heard he had nine convictions for 23 previous offences including taking a car without consent in 2003, drink driving in 2011 and another dangerous driving conviction.

In August 2017 he was banned for two years and ordered to take an extended re-test — but he never did,

In mitigation, barrister Micaila Williams said her client had pleaded guilty and had been in touch with friends in the roofing business to find a job for when he is released.

She said: “The older Mr O’Hagan gets, the more he doesn’t want to be in custody any longer.

“He has a baby on the way and there’s a real chance that if he can turn legit, there’ll be more work open to him when he is released.”