Young driver avoids jail for 'moment of madness' 140km/hr chase with gardaí

Joshua Bennet mounted a footpath, causing a number of pedestrians to run into the driveway of a house for safety

Det. Gda Gleeson said one garda had parked his vehicle in Bennet’s path in an attempt to stop the chase but Bennet continued driving directly at the car, causing the garda to reverse at speed onto a nearby footpath. File picture

A young driver who led gardaí on a high-speed chase causing motorists and pedestrians to get out of his path to avoid being struck has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Joshua Bennet (21), who has no previous convictions, was trying to avoid the gardaí because he had no insurance, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Bennet drove off at speed, rather than stopping when gardaí ordered him to, in “a moment of madness”, his lawyers told the court.