Father-of-five, 39, is spared jail after crashing his car when he turned vigilante to chase rider he spotted on his son’s stolen motorbike
- Peter Merrett, 39, noticed the stolen motorbike while driving through Newcastle
- He decided to go after it but hit a wall after accidentally hitting the bike
- Merrett pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Newcastle Crown Court
- He was sentenced to four months behind bars, suspended for 18 months
A father-of-five has avoided jail after wrecking his car when he turned vigilante and chased the rider of his son’s stolen motorcycle in a dangerous pursuit.
Peter Merrett, 39, was driving through the Longbenton area of Newcastle on his way to work last September when he spotted the missing bike and decided to go after it.
But he hit a wall before accidentally driving into the back of the bike, damaging his own car during the chase, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Merrett, of North Tyneside, made admissions in interview before pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
Mr Recorder Geoffrey Pritchard sentenced Merrett, who has five previous convictions for 11 offences, to four months behind bars, suspended for 18 months.
Pictured: the wrecked car. Peter Merrett, 39, hit a wall before accidentally driving into the back of his son’s stolen motorcycle, damaging his own car during the chase, Newcastle Crown Court heard
Peter Merrett, 39, was driving through the Longbenton area of Newcastle on his way to work last September when he spotted the missing bike and decided to go after it
The judge told him: ‘You are not formally of good character, however, you are lightly convicted. It’s clear that the driving took no consideration for the safety of the public in a residential area.
‘The offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified. That sentence, however, can be suspended.’
Merrett was also banned from driving for 18 months and must pass an extended re-test, as well as complete 40 rehabilitation days.
Prosecutor Jenny Haigh had told the court: ‘Mr Merrett’s son’s motorbike had been stolen through the day on the 11th of September.
‘The police had been contacted. This was not the first time that a motorbike had been taken and they had been recovered in the Longbenton area.
‘The defendant decided to travel that area on his way to work and he saw the motorcycle.
‘He passed the motorcycle and the defendant was driving what appears to be in excess of the speed limit. Prior to the collision he struck a wall.’
Peter Merrett was driving through the Longbenton area of Newcastle on his way to work last September when he spotted the missing bike
Ms Haigh told the court that the police were called by a member of the public who had witnessed what had happened.
Jennifer Coxon, mitigating, told the court: ‘Mr Merrett fully accepts his wrongdoing. He accepts on that day he saw red. It wasn’t the first time his son had his motorbike stolen.
‘He decided go via that area on his way to work to see if he could find it and of course he did. He accepts he took matters in his own hands and he shouldn’t have.
‘Mr Merrett is a hard-working family man, at present he resides alone with his three-year-old daughter. The probation service deem him a low risk of reoffending. He whole-heartedly takes responsibility.’
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