Dangerous Hebburn driver has ban extended after being found to be under the influence of drugs

A dangerous driver has had his ban extended after he was found to be under the influence of drugs.

Nathan Amour was given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court in April after being convicted of a string of offences including dangerous driving. The court heard how he “could have killed someone” during a police chase through the streets of Newcastle on February 21 this year.

On Wednesday, the 26-year-old appeared at Newcastle Magistrates Court charged with two drug-driving offences.

The court heard how a blood test, taken at the time of the police chase, later revealed he was under the influence of two drugs at the time. The drugs were – benzoylecgonine – a breakdown product of cocaine – and Delta-9-Tetrahyrocannabinol (THC) – a primary component of cannabis.

Ruth Forster, prosecuting, said Amour had been charged and dealt with on other driving-related matters. She said he had been given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and banned from driving for 18 months.

Ms Forster said the forensic results came back a few months later, which brought him back to court.

Amour, of Hexham Avenue, Hebburn, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug over the specified limit.

Paul Kennedy, defending, told the court police had failed to process the blood as quickly as the rest of the work and when it came back positive for two drugs in his system he was summoned. He asked magistrates to take into account he had already been sentenced for the rest of the offences, which were “much more serious”.

Mr Kennedy said: “He has been given a suspended sentence and a drug rehabilitation requirement. He has regular check-ups with the Honourable Judge Doig to see how he is doing. He did that this morning. He spoke to Judge Doig, to see how he is doing, and my understanding is that the feedback from the judge is relatively positive.”

Magistrates were asked to determine whether Amour would have received a greater punishment if the drugs offences had been tried at the same time at the crown court.

Bench President Nick Hooker gave Amour an absolute discharge – a sentence for which no punishment is imposed. He was also given a new driving disqualification, which will extend the length of his current ban.

He told him: “The court does not believe that it would make a material difference to what you received at the crown court. We are giving you a discharge. However, we have to give you a disqualification. The disqualification you will receive is 17 months. That means you will be disqualified for a little bit longer.”

Chronicle Live previously reported how Amour was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall when the case came to the attention of police in February this year as there was a “suspicion it was being used as some sort of support car”.

Amour drove along the Central Highway and at one point climbed a trail and descended a grassy embankment.

Stuart Graham, prosecuting, said: “Due to the dangerous manoeuvre, police put on blues and twos and the car continued to drive on, without stopping. It turned right into Richardson Road, braking to avoid a collision with an oncoming car and drove over traffic bumps at high speed.”

Amour then got out and ran while the car was still moving and hit another vehicle. He was chased and ended up running into the path of a police officer, who grabbed him and handcuffed him.

The court heard how, following his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis and amphetamine and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Amour, who has a previous conviction for dangerous driving, has previously pleaded guilty to:

• Dangerous driving
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Not having insurance
• Can’t stop
• Not stopping after an accident
• Failure to report an accident
• Carrying marijuana and amphetamine.

He was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years and banned from driving for 18 months. He was also made subject to a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a mental health treatment requirement.