Jail for banned driver in crash

Feb 9 2008 by Chloe Griffiths, Liverpool Daily Post

A BANNED driver has been jailed for causing a smash as he sped away from police.

Joseph Prendergast was spotted by officers in an unmarked car acting suspiciously on the Altway in Aintree.

But when they put their emergency lights on the 21-year-old raced off.

Other police cars were called to join the chase, but as Prendergast attempted to jump a red light he smashed into a Mercedes, injuring the driver.

Prendergast, of Chatsworth Avenue in Walton, then fled from his black Subaru but was caught after onlookers alerted police to where he was hiding.

The father-of-one was jailed yesterday after Liverpool Crown Court heard he had been repeatedly disqualified from driving.

Prendergast admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving while disqualified and without insurance on December 21 last year.

He was jailed for eight months.