Adam Cunningham, the driver of an Audi S3, has been handed a suspended prison sentence after fleeing from the police at speeds of up to 116mph while being over the cocaine and alcohol limit. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of September 22 last year, led to Cunningham’s appearance at Bradford Crown Court.
Prosecutor Conor Quinn informed the court that Cunningham, aged 40 and residing on Halifax Road in Brighouse, panicked when the police instructed him to stop on a petrol station forecourt. Instead of complying, he accelerated away, initiating a five-minute pursuit that concluded when he reached a dead end.
Cunningham pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving on Halifax Road at 1:10 am, driving with excess alcohol, and driving with a proportion of cocaine in his blood that exceeded the specified limit of not less than 26 micrograms per 1 litre.
In mitigation, Rebecca Young stated that Cunningham had promptly pleaded guilty to all three offences during the initial hearing at the magistrates’ court. She described him as a responsible family man with six children, noting that he was under significant stress and anxiety at the time. Cunningham had gone out to acquire more alcohol and was en route to a relative’s house when he encountered the police. His panicked reaction led to his reckless actions, which he deeply regretted due to the negative impact on family members who relied on him for support.
Young highlighted Cunningham’s occupation as a joiner and informed the court that his employers had made accommodations to work around his interim driving disqualification. She requested the court to consider suspending the custodial sentence, pointing out that he had not reoffended in the past eight months and had sought professional assistance to address his alcohol and drug use.
Recorder Gavin Doig criticised Cunningham’s behaviour as a disgraceful act of driving that put both himself and other road users in grave danger. Cunningham had reached an “astonishing speed” of 116mph before driving into a cul-de-sac. The court learned that he had 40 micrograms of alcohol in his system in addition to cocaine.
Despite the seriousness of the offence, letters of reference and a positive probation report influenced the decision to impose a suspended sentence. The court recognised that a prison term would disproportionately impact innocent family members, considering Cunningham’s limited prior convictions.
Cunningham received a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with requirements to complete up to 25 rehabilitation activity days and 60 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring. Additionally, he was banned from driving for 18 months and must pass an extended retest before regaining his driving privileges.
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
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