A man who flouted six different driving laws and crashed into a lamppost in Tonbridge High Street has been handed an extended ban.
Kevin Branagan, 21, from Whitehall Road in Aghagallon, Northern Ireland, took a red Peugeot 306 without the owner’s permission and proceeded to drive dangerously, without insurance or a license, while using a mobile phone and without a seatbelt on, in the early hours of 8 August last year.
He took the keys to the car, which belonged to his boss, the night before and at 2am he was seen revving the engine near Tonbridge Police Station in Pembury Road.
Officers followed him as he then drove along Pembury Road, Lavender Hill and Priory Road at speed. He then performed an illegal right-hand turn onto Railway Approach and drove up the High Street and over the bridge before colliding with a lamppost near Tonbridge Castle.
The damage he caused to the car, tools which were inside and the street furniture was valued at almost £22,000.
After he was arrested by police at the scene, he refused to provide a blood sample to determine the amount of alcohol in his system. CCTV later showed he had also been driving without his headlights on.
The road was closed for more than 24 hours while evidence was gathered, the crash debris was cleared and the road repaired.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Branagan was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 180 hours unpaid work and banned from driving for two and a half years after which he must pass an extended retest before he can drive again.
DS Miles Bishop from the serious collision investigation unit, said: “Although he did not give a blood sample, Branagan admitted in interview that he had been drinking earlier in the evening and the judge said it was likely he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
“It was miraculous that he survived, and that no innocent people were injured or killed by his actions.”