Dangerous driver traced through DNA jailed

A dangerous driver who was traced through his DNA has been jailed.

Officers began pursuing Kieron Anthony Luke after he drove a Mitsubishi Shogun into a house in Trimdon Station just after midnight on August 9 following a dispute with the occupants.

Thankfully no one was injured but the 27-year-old immediately fled the scene in the vehicle leaving significant damage to the property.

He was pursued by a Durham Roads and Armed Policing officer but ended up colliding with two parked cars as well as the police car when he reversed at high speed in a desperate attempt to get away.

The officer sustained a serious injury to her wrist as a result and was unable to continue, with Luke driving off before abandoning the vehicle.

However, three spots of blood found in the car were collected by crime scene investigators and analysed, showing a DNA match for Luke.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with a string of offences including dangerous driving, assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage, driving whilst disqualified and having no insurance.

He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges but later changed his plea before his trial and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison when he appeared at Durham Crown Court last Friday.

Luke, of Station Town, Wingate, was also disqualified from driving for 45 months and ordered to pay £228 in costs.

Detective Sergeant Rebecca Shaw, who led the investigation, said: “Luke is a criminal who has no regard for others and will do anything he can to try to evade the law so I am glad to see it has finally caught up with him and he is now behind bars.

“I hope all the victims in this case can have some closure with this result, especially the officer involved who suffered prolonged damage to her wrist and was unable to carry out her full duties for some time.”