Gainsborough - Sentencing following a serious collision

A man driving a stolen car failed to stop for police before causing a collision that left three people seriously injured.  

Max Holmes had been seen by our officers driving a silver Vauxhall Mariva in Canwick, near Lincoln, just before 9.50am on Sunday, 4 August this year.  

The car he was driving had significant rear end damage.  Checks revealed the car was not insured to be on the road, was notified off road in relation to vehicle tax and did not have a current MOT certificate. The car didn't appear road worthy and officers requested the driver stop the car; he failed to do so and accelerated away at speed.  

Holmes carried on driving, refusing to stop his vehicle.  He had a front seat passenger which he put at risk as he drove dangerously and recklessly until the point he collided with another vehicle in Gainsborough.   

On the approach to the traffic light-controlled junction of Thorndyke Way and The Belt Road, Holmes drove his vehicle in the oncoming lane of the dual carriageway. He drove head on into a black Mercedes which had just set off from the traffic lights.  The driver, a man in his 60s, and a woman also in her 60s who had been sat in the front passenger seat were seriously injured.  The passenger of Holmes’ vehicle, a woman in her 20s, was also seriously injured. The three people were taken to hospital.  A third vehicle, also a black Mercedes, was damaged during the collision, the driver, a man in his 60s, received less serious injuries.  

Holmes attempts to escape were dangerous, putting other road users at risk as he drove recklessly.  

The pursuit had been authorised. Any officer who is authorised to take part in a pursuit will have received a high level of training in Tactical Pursuit and Containment Tactics (TPAC). As part of that training, they will carry out a continuous dynamic risk assessment reporting back to Force Control Room Inspector who, along with a ground commander, will use various tactics to manage the risk with a view to bringing any pursuit to a safe conclusion.   

Holmes was sentenced when appearing today (30 September) at Lincoln Crown Court, to three years in a young offenders institution and disqualified from driving for six years and four months. He will have to pass an extended test before he can legally drive again. when appearing today (30 September) at Lincoln Crown Court. The 20-year-old, of Homemead Grove, Birmingham, had previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified; and driving without insurance. 

Detective Sergeant Adam Doona, Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Had Max Holmes simply stopped his car on the morning of Sunday 4 August, no-one would have been injured, other road users, including our officers, wouldn’t have been faced with a driver who chose to drive dangerously. 

“Only our officers who are trained to the highest levels in Tactical Pursuit and Containment Tactics, (TPAC), are authorised to take part in pursuits.  This was the case on that Sunday morning.  The pursuit was authorised and throughout a continuous dynamic risk assessment was carried out.   

“There is no doubt other road users have been forced to take avoiding action and have been shocked by the reckless driving of Holmes.”