Disqualified teenage driver who led police on dangerous chase in Basildon sentenced

  • WATCH: Police footage shows the dramatic pursuit. Credit: Essex Police / National Police Air Service

A disqualified teenage driver who tried to evade police during a dangerous chase in Basildon has been sentenced.

Buster Digby, of Woodward Gardens, Sawbridgeworth, was tracked by helicopter as he raced in a Porsche Cayenne through the streets of the Essex town earlier this year.

Officers first spotted the 19-year-old on the afternoon of March 21 at a leisure park, watching as it parked.

The car failed to stop for police the previous day, so officers put a plan in place, which involved support from the National Police Air Service helicopter.

When the Porsche left the leisure park, it began to increase its speed and drove through a red traffic light.

Tracked from above and followed by police, it was then seen to cross onto the wrong side of the road before travelling the wrong way around a roundabout.

It then entered a site off Courtauld Road, where Digby abandoned the vehicle.

The helicopter continued to track Digby from above, allowing officers on the ground to detain him.

Buster Digby was chased on foot when he abandoned his car. Credit: Essex Police / National Police Air Service

Checks established he was already disqualified from driving, held only a provisional licence and was not insured to drive the vehicle.

He later admitted to a range of offences, including failing to stop when required by police, driving without care and attention, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified.

On Tuesday (October 20), Digby appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court, where he was sentenced to 12 weeks in a young offender institution, suspended for a year, with a rehabilitation activity requirement attached.

Digby was also banned from driving for a further 18 months.

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