Dangerous driver found hiding under bed

A MAN who drove head on at a patrol car during a garda chase in Navan two years ago was jailed for two years at Trim Circuit Court and banned from driving for ten years.

Twenty-four-year old Paddy Lawrence with an address at Townspark, Navan admitted charges of endangerment and dangerous driving in the town on 27th September 2019.

The court heard the defendant, who was banned from driving at the time, ignored demands to stop when gardai spotted him driving a Daihatsu jeep that afternoon.

He took off at speed, overtaking four cars before driving into a car park, where he did a 180 degree turn and drove into a patrol car which had been following.

He then reversed into another car and sped off on the Commons road swerving to the wrong side of the road before entering Townspark at speed, where he reversed a number of times and drove across a green area where there were children and adults.

Although he made good his escape on foot after entering a cul de sac and making a 360 degree turn, he was later found hiding under a bed in a house where he had been living.

He later told a probation officer he was relieved no one had been injured

The court heard that while on bail for the Navan incident Lawrence, who had 60 previous convictions and a history of substance abuse, committed an assault in Dublin for which he was now serving three years.

Judge Martina Baxter described the defendant's driving as appalling and his action in driving over the green area while other people were about as "horrific".

"It was very very lucky no one was injured," she said .

After reading a number of reports on the defendent the judge noted that Lawrence had shown insight and remorse and engaged in education and rehabilitation while in custody.

Judge Baxter imposed a sentence of three years with the final 12 months suspended on the endangerment charge with concurrent terms of six months each for dangerous driving and driving without insurance and also banned him from driving for ten years.