The 33-year-old footballer who took police on a high-speed chase before crashing a 100km Range Rover and fleeing the scene is avoiding prison

A footballer who led police on a high-speed chase in a £100,000 Range Rover ran away after crashing into a parked car.

Gary Madine, 33, who has played up front for Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool, was zooming around in his Range Rover with the police on his back.

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Locals were asleep when Madine sped through Birtley, Gateshead, in the early hours of April 3.

Madine, who had a previous conviction for violence, decided to stop the SUV rather than stop when police arrived.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Madine behaved “ridiculously stupid” when officers turned up in the early hours of the morning to reports of a disturbance.

Mark Atkins, prosecuting, said: “The vehicle began to drive away ignoring police instructions to stop.”

“The police officer got into his car, followed the defendant and activated his blue lights and siren.

“During the police pursuit he drove dangerously. There is footage of the pursuit from the police car’s dashcam.

“During the chase, the defendant collided with a white Ford Focus that was parked in front of a house. on a path.”

The impact of this accident caused a mailbox to be overturned and the Ford and Range Rover to be damaged.

Madine tried to continue driving but was unable to do so due to the damage and after about 40m got out and ran away with his passenger.

However, since he was the registered owner of the car, he was easily traced. However, he did not respond to a message requesting information about who was driving at the time.

The 33-year-old, of Bede Way, Birtley, who has four previous convictions for violence but has a clean driving license, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to stop for police and No information was provided about the driver of a vehicle.

Recorder Paul Reid sentenced him to six months probation, 18 months with 250 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month driving ban with a requirement that he complete an enhanced test before he can get his license back.

The judge said: “It is a mystery why people in your position would do this. I suspect you evaded the police because you didn’t want to take a breathalyzer test, but I’ll ignore that, the circumstances are bad enough.”

“I am impressed by the pre-sentence report and character references as well as the letter you have written yourself. You have described this as an act of stupidity. It’s fortunate that it didn’t cause more serious damage or injury to other people.”

Shaun Routledge, defending him, said Madine had “panicked” and added: “2023 was a difficult year for him, his year-long relationship ended and he suffered a serious injury which resulted in nine months of rehabilitation and not in the “Was able to deliver the performance.” Work that he has been doing for many years. In April he was feeling very low.”

Mr Routledge said Madine’s “career depends on his full recovery”, adding: “There are offers from other clubs.”

“Blackpool have been very supportive in terms of rehab. He may or may not go back to what he’s done his whole adult life.”
“He realizes that what he did was ridiculously stupid.”

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