Man hid 'shivering' in lake after pursuit - police

A man who was arrested after being fished out of a lake where he was hiding following a police pursuit has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Davey Smith, 18, was seen driving "suspiciously" on the outskirts of Scarborough in the early hours of 6 November and sparked a pursuit when he failed to stop, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Smith, of Prospect Crescent, Scarborough, then pulled over and fled from the car, with officers eventually arresting him after he was discovered "almost fully submerged" in Throxenby Mere, a spokesperson said.

Sgt Mark Patterson said: "It certainly wasn't the cleverest place to hide on a cold November night and he could have caused himself serious harm."

"He was shivering, so we wrapped him in a foil blanket and gave him one of our woolly police hats to wear, and a thick winter police coat," Sgt Patterson added.

The pursuit involving Smith and a passenger, who were travelling in a Ford Mondeo, had come to an end after a stinger device was used to deflate the car's tyres, the force spokesperson said.

Both Smith and his passenger, a 17-year-old boy, had then run from the vehicle towards Throxenby Mere, with the boy detained immediately, but "no sign of Smith".

After about 45 minutes of searching by torchlight, Sgt Patterson noticed a figure in the water.

Smith was subsequently pulled out of the lake before being given first aid and taken to hospital where he was charged, police said.

He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failure to stop, failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis and driving without insurance or an appropriate licence.

At Scarborough Magistrates' Court on Monday, Smith was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, as well as 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also given a 28-month driving ban and ordered to pay more than £270 costs.

The passenger in the car was later released without charge, police said.

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