Driver who injured boys and police in crash jailed

Dale White was jailed for three years

A dangerous driver who crashed a stolen car with two 13-year-old passengers into an unmarked police car has been jailed for three years.

Dale White, 41, was driving at about 68mph on a 30mph road seconds before the crash which left the boys and two police officers seriously injured, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

White, who is currently serving a three and half year sentence for affray and breaching a restraining order, fled the scene of the crash in August in Walbottle, Newcastle.

Unlicensed and uninsured White, of Newbiggin Hall in Newcastle, admitted seven offences including causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

'Heavily convicted'

Prosecutor Mairi Clancy said White stole the Vauxhall Astra from behind a woman's home in Walbottle the day before the crash.

On 12 August, he was taking two 13-year-old boys to get fuel for a motorbike when he overtook two cars at speed on Hawthorn Terrace.

An unmarked police car was turning ahead of him and White smashed into the back of it, Ms Clancy said.

He helped one of the boys, who was bleeding heavily from a large gash on his head, out of the car but showed no regard for the other before walking away, Ms Clancy said.

The prosecutor said White was "heavily convicted" and was banned from driving at the time, having previously been punished for offences including drink driving and aggravated vehicle taking.

The boy White helped out of the car needed 22 internal and external stitches to his head wound while the boy he abandoned inside had suffered a broken leg.

'Lucky no-one killed'

Both police officers suffered injuries to their backs and necks and were in constant pain for weeks afterwards, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the woman whose car was taken said losing her vehicle for four months had caused significant stress and financial hardship.

The boy with the head wound said he had been left feeling "uneasy" after the crash and was now "always nervous" travelling in cars.

In mitigation, the court heard White, who appeared via video link from HMP Holme House, said he was disgusted by his actions and he accepted it was "absolute luck" no-one had been killed.

White, of Langleeford Road, also admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Recorder Felicity Davies said his new prison term would be served consecutively to his current jail spell, which began in November and the earliest release day would be May 2025.

He was also banned from driving for six and a half years.