Newark woman who overtook on blind bend after evading police spared jail at Lincoln Crown Court

A woman who overtook on a blind bend after driving off from police was spared an immediate jail sentence.

Officers tried to speak to Natalia Price, 26, after she was spotted acting suspiciously at the Asda petrol station in Grantham.

CCTV showed Price was driving a car with false number plates and was suspected of intending to steal fuel from the petrol station, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Luc Chignell, prosecuting, said a police officer got out of his car to speak to Price, who reacted by driving out of the wrong exit of the filling station.

Mr Chignell said Price took a nearby roundabout at some speed before overtaking another car as she travelled under a railway bridge around a blind bend.

Officers spotted the car a short time later parked outside a house in Barrowby Road but Price made no comment during her police interview.

Price, of Riverside Park, Tolney Lane, Newark, later admitted two offences of dangerous driving and going equipped for theft following the incident on March 7, 2020.

The court was told Price was fined by Nottingham magistrates in June for a similar offence of failing stop after stealing petrol, but otherwise had no previous convictions.

Dermot Hughes, defending, admitted it was impossible not to wince when looking at the CCTV pictures of her overtaking manoeuvre.

But Mr Hughes told the court Price had not led a life of criminality and had come under pressure from people she was fearful of.

Recorder Jacob Hallam QC told Price her offending was serious.

“The reason this was treated so seriously is because of what might have happened if a car had been coming around that bend or if a child had run out,” he reminded her.

But the judge said he was able to avoid an immediate prison sentence because Price did not have a bad criminal record.

Price was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, a 15-day rehabilitation requirement and a three-month nightly curfew from 8pm to 7am.

She was also banned from driving for 18 months and must take an extended retest.