Moment drink-driver smashes into cars while fleeing police
by Ryan Prosser · Mail OnlineThis is the moment a drunk driver ran five red lights and smashed into two cars while being pursued by police.
Declan Muers avoided prison after claiming he didn't want to fork out £7.50 on a taxi fare home from a nightclub.
The 27-year-old had been drinking before he left in a rage in the early hours of the morning and drove the two miles home.
Dashcam footage shows Muers hurtling through Nottingham city centre at around 4am on February 18.
A police patrol car spotted him driving erratically on Maid Marian Way and followed him as he sped through five sets of red traffic lights.
Muers continued to career through the city before losing control of his blue Volkswagen Scirocco and crashing into two parked cars on Hungerhill Road.
The out-of-control driver tried to flee the scene on foot but was caught by officers a short distance away.
A breathalyser test showed he had 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - well over the 35mcg limit.
Muers was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre for a cut head before being arrested and taken into custody.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a police constable and drink-driving.
Muers was handed a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, in addition to a two-year driving ban, a four-month curfew and a requirement to complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
PC Fraser Heaton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'Muers showed a clear disregard for the safety of others by driving dangerously through a city centre in poor weather conditions.
'He was in no fit state to be behind the wheel of a car and it is fortunate he didn't cause harm to another road user or pedestrian.
'He was also extremely lucky not to have sustained a more serious injury himself after losing control and crashing into two parked vehicles.
'During his police interview, he told us he'd been drinking in a nightclub and left after becoming angry about something that had happened.
'He should have got a taxi home but seemingly didn't want to pay a fare.
'Now he's paid a heftier price in court with the loss of his driver's licence.'