A BANNED driver who led police on a drug-fuelled high-speed chase along the A34 and A40 has been spared jail.
Although drug-driver Nedim Mirvic tried to evade justice, the short-lived pursuit earlier this year came to a sudden halt as, not long after 6pm, he hit the rush hour traffic and he was promptly arrested while stuck in a line of cars.
The 23-year-old of Three Corners Road, Oxford, had already admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving with cannabis in his system, driving while disqualified and without insurance.
At his sentencing hearing yesterday police footage of the incident on March 22 was played.
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In that footage an unmarked police car is seen to activate its siren and blue lights after spotting Mirvic in a red Vauxhall Vectra driving dangerously.
Prosecutors said Mirvic first undertook the officer and then almost collided with a motorcyclist on the A34 between Kidlington and Oxford.
Despite efforts to stop Mirvic he sped off driving in excess of 70 mph.
While he was fleeing the unmarked police car he proceeded to indicate left and exited the road at Pear Tree before joining Woodstock Road.
The footage then appeared to show Mirvic run out of road with lines of cars queued up in front of him and officers then swarmed on his car and arrested him.
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After his arrest he was tested for drugs and found to have cannabis in his system and he was also discovered to be disqualified from driving and driving without insurance.
Mirvic also has a number of previous crimes to his name, made up of nine convictions for 23 offences.
In mitigation yesterday defence barrister Robert Lindsey said his client was 'very remorseful' for what he had done.
He said: "It is a short lived, high speed example of driving.
"Driving in which no one was hurt and no damage was caused. He was compliant when arrested and made full admissions at interview.
"He was remorseful at interview."
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The court also heard that Mirvic had 'limited education' and suffered mental health problems including anxiety and depression.
Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: "You should not be driving a car but bearing in mind you have been smoking cannabis in quite considerable proportions and it was still in your body.
"Driving like that is extremely dangerous.
"You must have been aware that the police were behind you, you could see the lights, you could hear the siren, so you failed to stop for her."
Mirvic was handed an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months and made subject to a community order.
That order will include 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 160 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay court costs of £425 and he was banned from driving for three years.
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