By ROBERT GIBSON robert.gibson@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 13:01, Friday, 12 March 2010

A JOYRIDER from Prudhoe has walked free from court after killing a police dog and injuring two officers in a road crash.

Sean Lawson: Pictured after walking free from court.

Sean Lawson (20), of Biverfield Road, was three times over the legal alcohol limit when he smashed a VW Passat into police vehicles at Blaydon.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking at Newcastle Crown Court last Monday, and said “Get in!” as his 12-month prison sentence was suspended.

Both road safety charities and the Police Federation have since condemned the sentence’s leniency, saying it makes a mockery of the criminal justice system.

Prosecutor Geoff Mason told the court a trail of destruction began when a car was rammed in Benwell on November 9 last year.

As the owner got out to chase two men, others jumped into the man’s Passat and drove it away.

Later that night, a police officer spotted the stolen car and, when he tried to pull it over, Lawson, who was driving, accelerated.

He lost control, mounted a pavement and just avoided slamming into some houses.

Officers tried to box the car in, but Lawson rammed into their vehicle forcing it backwards down the road.

The Passat was then spotted travelling on the wrong side of the road round a blind bend with no lights on, doing 60mph.

Lawson again lost control and missed hitting another police car by centimetres, before driving on at 90mph on the wrong side of the A695.

He then pulled a hand-brake turn, causing another collision with a police car and a dog van, after which a stinger device was deployed to stop the Passat, which had its bumper hanging off.

Two police officers were hurt in the incident, and one needed physiotherapy for chest and back injuries.

One police dog suffered a broken back and had to be put down, while two others were injured.

Lawson was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 200 hours unpaid work, a curfew and a three-year driving ban.

He walked free from court as Mr Recorder David Hatton noted he had already been in custody on remand and must be given credit for his guilty plea.

“You drove in an appallingly dangerous manner over a considerable distance,” Lawson was told.

“You put at considerable risk the lives of those in the vehicle and the lives of other motorists.

“You were driving on the wrong side of the road at ludicrous speed and you caused injuries to police officers and fatal injuries to a police dog.”

Speaking after the hearing, Russ Watson, of Northumbria Police Federation, said: “When police officers are injured attempting to bring offenders to justice we would expect the sentence to reflect the gravity of what actually happened.

“My concern is: do these sentences provide a deterrent for the future?

“Sadly, I do not believe they do.”

General manager at road safety charity Brake, Sarah Fatica, said: “It is ludicrous that a criminal like Lawson has got off with little more than a slap on the wrist.

“His suspended sentence makes a mockery of the criminal justice system.”

Repeat offender Lawson gained notoriety in his teens when he terrorised his neighbourhood in Newcastle as part of the “Scotswood Hoodies” gang.

The then 16-year-old and four friends were given ASBOs banning them from wearing hoods and entering certain areas.

First published at 09:43, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk