A 33-year-old man who led police on a brief pursuit and was caught attempting to avoid detection by swapping from the driver to the passenger seat, has been handed a 6-week suspended prison sentence.
Shaun Austin, of Fort Street in Sandown, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Friday), having previously been found guilty of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. He was found guilty in his absence after failing to attend his trial on 4th March.
Leah Dillon, prosecuting, told the court that the incident occurred on 4th July last year at 01:40 in the morning. Austin was spotted by police driving a Volkswagen Polo at speed along The Broadway in Sandown.
Having noticed the speed at which Austin was driving, Police activated their lights and sirens, before Austin turned with no indication onto Melville Street.
In an attempt to evade officers, the 33-year-old parked the car on a driveway where he was seen moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat.
The court heard how Police recognised the defendant and subsequently arrested him, where it was then found he was driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.
Austin was handed a 40-month driving ban back in December 2023.
Austin also admitted 2x failing to surrender to court/bail, firstly on the day of his trial and secondly on the day of his initial sentencing hearing back in June.
Defending Austin, Nick Muir, told the court that Austin – who was picked up on an arrest warrant this week – had addiction and mental health issue and that at the time of his court no-shows, was living a “hectic life”.
A probation update read aloud in court, said that whilst he had attended some appointments, Austin had also returned negative drug readings for BZE, cocaine and opiates.
Magistrates sentenced Austin to 6-weeks in prison, suspended for 12-months. He was also banned from driving for 18-months and ordered to pay a fine, court costs and surcharge fee.
Not worth the bother, from reading the article
obviously a regular offender and just a 6 week suspended
sentence, bit of a joke.
Might has well as given him an holiday at Centet parcs
for 6 weeks paid for by us law abiding tax payers.
No wonder people keep offending – THERE ARE NO RULES!
START BY STOPPING OFFENDERS BENEFITS.
People keep moaning about migrants, but you don’t
read such news about them on the island committing
such crimes.
The baddies are already on the island, locals.
As far as migrants , I’m assuming you refer to illegal immigrants, of which there are none on the Island according to the government.
Is there such a thing as an illegal migrant,
if the West left their countries alone they would
never of had to flee.
Yeah like he’s going to abide by his sentencing? He will be back behind the wheel when he feels like it? Oh and him crying pity don’t work you low life we all have our own problems but do not act like a person who has absolutely no respect for the law!
Even if such numpties killed innocent persons by driving they
still wouldn’t face the full force of the law unless killing a
so called person of importance
Sadly there is no law and order in Britain anymore.
I never thought I would see the day where this country is
FINISHED!, but it is, our childrens futures are a concern.