Hefty court bill for Wisbech driver who teased police for not keeping up with him

A Wisbech driver who teased police after outrunning them in his VW Golf has landed a court bill of £1,866.

After being arrested, James Ashworth told officers: "You didn't catch me down that dirt track, did you?"

But Ashworth's motoring offences caught up with him on Thursday when magistrates found the case proven in his absence and handed out some hefty fines.

Ashworth, 27, of Sefton Avenue, failed to appear in court at King's Lynn as scheduled.

Prosecutor Richard Greenhough said: "Police spotted the vehicle as having no MOT and followed the defendant, who makes off at speed.

"Officers have activated the blues and twos.

"He turns off on to a dirt track and police followed the vehicle. It was later found to be abandoned."

Mr Greenhough said Ashworth had driven recklessly through S bends in Waterlees Road and the car had spun out of control and ended up facing the opposite way.

"The vehicle was going that fast that the police vehicle could not keep up with it," he added.

Officers later detained the defendant and that's when he taunted them.

Ashworth said he didn't want to lose his car after paying "all that money for it", Mr Greenhough told the court.

He was not insured and only had a provisional licence, with no L plates on the car or supervision.

Ashworth, who was banned for six months, was fined £660 for each charge of driving without due care and attention and having no insurance.

He was also fined £120 for each charge of failing to stop for police and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

And there was an order for £150 costs and £156 victim surcharge.