Men jailed after fatal M1 crash

The court heard Mould had 36 previous convictions

Two men have been jailed for their parts in a fatal motorway crash following a police chase in Derbyshire.

Steven Bellerby, 25, from Peterlee, Co Durham, died as the car overturned on a slip road at Junction 29a on the M1.

Shaun Mould, 31, from Southampton, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and stealing a number plate. He was jailed for three years and 10 months.

Neil Bennett, 26, from Peterlee, admitted aggravated vehicle taking. He was jailed for four years and a month.

Bennett also admitted driving while disqualified.

The court heard the men were returning from the south coast to Peterlee when police spotted the Vauxhall Corsa on the hard shoulder.

What happened on that road was tragic Judge John Burgess

The car then sped off at about 105mph as officers approached the vehicle, which swerved towards the exit before flipping onto its roof.

Mould and Bennett ran off with minor injuries before being caught by police but detectives failed to prove who was at the wheel when the crash happened.

Judge John Burgess heard Mould had 36 previous convictions and Bennett had 39.

He said: "What happened on that road was tragic.

"When you were interviewed you each named the other [as the driver.] Therefore no case of causing death by dangerous driving was followed up and I'm left to deal with you as if you were both passengers.

"Having said that you both contributed to the circumstances that led to this crash and this death."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has investigated the crash, but said it had "no concerns" about the actions of the police driver pursuing the car.