34-year-old Harry Turnbull, who led Police on a dangerous 8-mile pursuit across the Isle of Wight, accompanied by a giant teddy bear, has been jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for more than 3 years.
Harry Turnbull, 34, of Sandham House on Fort Street in Sandown, has been handed an immediate custodial sentence after previously admitting dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Turnbull was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Transporter when he attempted to evade Police during a pursuit between Sandown and Newport on 14th January this year.
The court previously heard how the 8.7-mile pursuit lasted around 15 minutes, during which Turnbull drove through 4 sets of red traffic lights, overtook queuing vehicles and travelled on the wrong side of the road.
At one stage, he reached speeds of 57mph in a 30mph zone on Broadway in Sandown.
The pursuit continued through Sandown, over The Downs and towards Newport via Long Lane and Staplers Road, before officers deployed a stinger on Wellesley Way to bring the van to a stop.
Despite being stopped, Turnbull attempted to reverse away from officers, colliding with the front of a Police vehicle on one occasion.
Officers subsequently removed him from the vehicle and arrested him, before discovering a life-sized teddy bear inside the camper.
Turnbull was taken to Newport Police Station, where he refused to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.
The 34-year-old admitted both offences when he appeared before Magistrates on 14th July.
He has now been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for dangerous driving, with a further 2-month prison sentence for failing to provide a specimen, to run concurrently. This means he will serve a total custodial sentence of 12 months.
Turnbull has also been disqualified from driving for 3 years and 4 months, with a further 4-month extension in connection with his immediate custodial sentence.
He will be required to pass an extended driving test before being permitted to drive again.
