Boy racer already banned from driving six times leads police on 80mph chase

22 October 2023 , 14:18

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Saul Oxburgh was jailed at Hull Crown Court (Image: Hull Daily Mail/MEN Media)

A thug carrying drugs led cops on an "outrageous" early-morning car chase through a city centre, racing the wrong way up a one-way street and forcing a pedestrian to jump for their life.

Car-obsessed drug user Saul Oxburgh, 23, who has already racked up a long history of crime, was driving a stolen car that had false registration plates in Hull at the time of the "disgusting" pursuit. At one point a man had to leap out of his way, the city's crown court heard. Oxburgh, of Millport Drive, Boothferry estate, west Hull, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and possessing cocaine and cannabis on September 9.

Drug user Saul Oxburgh hurtled through city centre streets at 'dangerous' speeds (HullLive/MEN Media)

According to the Hull Daily Mail, Oxburgh was jailed for 42 weeks and was banned from driving for five years and 21 weeks for the offences, with Recorder Anthony Kelbrick telling him: "You have a dreadful criminal record. You were in a stolen car with false plates. Cannabis was clearly being used because officers could smell it. You turned into a garage and then out again to see if you were being followed. You were.

"You set off on a prolonged and protracted attempt to escape capture. You drove at high speeds on roads limited to 30mph and you put other traffic at risk. The risk was huge. You drove through housing estates, driving through cars parked on either side of the road. At least one man leapt to the side to make sure that he was out of your way. You abandoned the car. You ran off but you were later caught."

He led police on a winding route from Beverley Road to Albermarle Street, flying over speed bumps and even belting up a one-way street the wrong way. Samantha Laws, prosecuting, said that police spotted a silver Ford Fiesta, which had three people in it, on Beverley Road and that there was a strong smell of cannabis.

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The car was followed from the approach towards Dunswell, at 6.30am, into a BP garage but it sped off towards the roundabout on Beverley Road towards Hull and failed to stop when police activated their blue lights and siren. Oxburgh overtook a lorry and a car and reached speeds of 80mph in a 30mph limit, undertaking in a bus lane, driving on the wrong side of the road and heading through red traffic lights on Beverley Road.

He turned into Lambert Street, with cars on either side of the road, and flew over speed bumps before turning left into narrow Prince's Road, going the wrong way down a one-way street and going the wrong way around a roundabout on Princes Avenue.

He then turned left and headed right onto Derringham Street, approaching Hull Royal Infirmary, before driving to Anlaby Road and Coltman Street, including over speed bumps. Oxburgh turned right to Gee Street and then on to Wellsted Street, Hessle Road, Boulevard and Albemarle Street.

He headed under the flyover and dodged a police car that tried to use a tyre-bursting stinger. The car eventually stopped and Oxburgh ran off, but he was caught and detained by police. "The vehicle had been stolen in a robbery on September 2 and it was using false plates at the time of these offences," said Miss Laws. Oxburgh was identified and it was discovered he had been banned from driving on May 13 last year for three years. Small amounts of cannabis and cocaine were found on him.

Oxburgh had convictions for 43 previous offences, 14 of them for driving offences and three for possessing drugs. He had previously been given six separate driving bans. Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that Oxburgh behaved in an "outrageous" way during the chase. "He knows that this offending was disgusting," said Miss Hobson.

Oxburgh had said: "It's dangerous, isn't it? I am ashamed and embarrassed that this has happened. I could have hurt someone." Miss Hobson added that while her cleint had an unenviable record of convictions, he had shown a good level of insight into his behaviour. "He does not want to continue this behaviour," said . "He wants to work and contribute to society.

"He was a trainee scaffolder and he wants to get back into this type of work. He wants to keep his nose clean. He wants to keep out of prison. He is desperate to be out of custody."

Paul Johnson