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30
Jun
Harrogate man who 'could have caused death' through dangerous driving avoids jail
A Harrogate man who “could have caused death” through dangerous driving has avoided jail.
Hari Barnes, 18, of Roberts Crescent, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (June 27) where he spoke to confirm his name, address and enter a plea.
Barnes admitted charges including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance on the evening of December 3, 2024.
Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, said the 18-year-old had been spotted by North Yorkshire Police officers in Harrogate driving a VW Golf when he was banned.
Ms Barnard said that Barnes “drove at speed” away from officers and continued driving even after a police stinger blew one of his tyres.
The court heard that the police’s pursuit led them down the A59 Knaresborough Road, Bogs Lane, Kingsley Drive and Rydal Road.
Barnes broke the speed limit on those roads and reached 70mph in some cases, Ms Barnard said. She added that the defendant had also driven on the wrong side of the road, namely on Starbeck High Street.
Ms Barnard told the court that by this point the car’s tyre was “shredded” down to the alloy.
The pursuit led police down Wetherby Road and Hookstone Drive before Barnes abandoned the vehicle in a car park on Hookstone Wood Road, where he fled on foot.
However, officers located him and arrested him.
Ms Barnard told the court that Barnes had been convicted and banned from driving in February 2024.
‘It is not pretty’
Brian Nuttney, defending, said he had dealt with the 18-year-old “on a number of occasions”.
He said that Barnes had suffered from “adverse childhood events”. However, Mr Nuttney said he was “not going to say there is no responsibility here”.
Mr Nuttney told the court that he had seen the police footage of the incident. He said:
It is not pretty, nor is it the worst.
Mr Nuttney requested that magistrates step back from a custodial sentence and impose a “high level community order” in order to deal with Barnes.
During sentencing, magistrates told Barnes that his behaviour was “totally reckless”.
They added that his driving “could not only have caused death to other people, but to yourself”.
Magistrates sentenced Barnes to 40 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to wear an electronic tag and abide by a curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am for 12 months.
Barnes was also banned from driving for a further 18 months and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £154 and court costs of £85.
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