Bodycam released after a teenager is sentenced of a high speed pursuit through Southend
By: Two bladed weapons were seized and a dangerous driver taken off the road after police stopped a stolen car in Southend.
Officers responded after reports of people brandishing knives inside a vehicle in Ruskin Avenue.
After the call came in at around 12.25pm on Wednesday, May 22, specially trained pursuit officers were on the tail of the vehicle in question by 1.10pm, signalling for it to stop by activating their blue lights.
The vehicle, a Ford Kuga, was later found to be on cloned number plates.
The car failed to stop, and a pursuit followed through Southend and into Great Wakering, during which, the Kuga was driven onto the wrong side of the road, and over the pavement near the entrance to a school, reaching dangerously high speeds.
In High Street, Great Wakering, officers cut the Kuga off, blocking and making tactical contact with the vehicle to prevent any further risk to the public.
The handle of a machete was found stashed inside the vehicle.
The driver, a 17-year-old boy, from Shoeburyness, who cannot be named because of his age, was swiftly detained.
Two blades – a knife and a machete – were recovered.
Following a search of the driver, the sheath of a knife was recovered.
He was arrested and later charged with possession of a knife, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.
He appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 24 where he admitted the charges.
At a sentencing hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on June 14, he was sentenced to a youth detention and training order spanning six months.
He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must take an extended test before he can hold a licence.
A 16-year-old boy, from Great Wakering, arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife, theft of a motor vehicle, and aggravated vehicle taking, remains on bail until July 21.