Van driver who fled from police caught by drone
A police drone helped catch a driver who fled after failing to stop for officers in Lincoln. The driver of the van was sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.
Lincolnshire Police have announced how modern technology is helping them fight crime. A police drone was used to catch a driver who failed to stop for officers.
The drone guided police officers to clothesline the 31-year-old driver who was hiding. A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said the man was hiding in bushes near Crofton Close, Lincoln.
Ashley Howitt of Jellicoe Aveue, Lincoln was arrested after being spotted by the drone and taken into custody. He refused to provide a breath sample and while in custody damaged a cell.
The Lincoln man appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on charges of failing to take a breathalyzer test, failing to stop and causing damage to the cell. He pleaded guilty to the charges on Friday, October 27.
Ashely Howitt was disqualified from driving for three years; he was also fined £150 and ordered to pay compensation of £50 with costs of £370.
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “Keeping our roads safe and reducing the number of people who are seriously injured or killed will always be a focus for our officers. The man had failed to stop for police and ran from his van. He was located by our drone's thermal imaging and officers were guided to arrest him.”
