Drink driver jailed after 115mph pursuit between Nottingham and Derby

Deon Samra, 21, was jailed for nine months after admitting dangerous driving.
By Jasmine Thomas-Alie

A driver who reached speeds of 115mph while under the influence of drink and drugs has been jailed for nine months.

Deon Samra, 21, was spotted driving at high speed along Derby Road, Nottingham, in the early hours of Saturday, November 11 last year.

After a Notts Police officer tried to pull him over, he accelerated away, reaching speeds of 115mph on the A52.

Samra repeatedly ran red lights in residential areas and drove at oncoming traffic.

Police caught him near Derby after he lost control and veered over a roundabout at high speed.

One of his two passengers fled the scene, and Samra attempted to deceive arresting officers by jumping out of the driver’s seat and sitting in the back seat.

PC Kerry Sansom, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Samra showed a complete disregard for the safety of his passengers and other road users as he led officers on a lengthy and high-speed pursuit.

“His driving that night was some of the most dangerous I have seen and he should count himself lucky not to have killed or seriously injured anyone.”

After failing drink and drugs tests by the side of the road, he also repeatedly gave “no comment” answers to all questions posed to him during his police interview.

He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink driving, drug driving and driving without insurance.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, Samra, of Derby, was jailed for nine months and disqualified from driving for two years and four months.

PC Sansom added: “I am pleased he has now been punished for his actions and hope this case serves as a reminder to others- that driving of this nature is very likely to end with a prison sentence.”