A father-of-three has thanked a judge for not sending him to jail after he admitted leading police on a drunken New Year's Eve car chase through Chelmsford.
Ben Jolly, 27, of Hillary Close, Springfield, was handed a nine-month prison sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court today (January 20),
But it was suspended it for two years, and the relieved but remorseful groundworker reiterated his warning for people not to get behind the wheel drunk.
"I want to say thank you to the judge and I'm not going to ruin things now," said Jolly. "It's important, more than anything, that I'm home with my family.
"This morning when I was about to come to court I actually told my middle child that I was going for a job interview.
"If I went to prison it would have had a big effect on my family.
"As soon as I get out of here I'm going to ring British Gas, who I've applied for an apprenticeship with to be a plumber, to find out what is going on with my application."
Jolly drove his friend home after drinking six or seven pints, of mostly Strongbow cider topped with lemonade, in the Rose and Crown pub in Writtle on New Year's Eve.
Prosecutor Geoffrey Porter told how an officer followed Jolly as he sped 70mph in 30mph zones along Waterhouse Lane at about 12.15am, before a chase along Rainsford Lane, the Robjohns Road industrial estate - where he reversed into a police car - and in Broomfield Road.
The chase came to a halt when Jolly, who has more than 11 previous convictions, jumped through the bushes off Valley Bridge into the River Chelmer.
'I actually thought that was it'
He pleaded guilty to several driving offences at a hearing earlier this month.
"It was the most stupid thing I've ever done," said Jolly, who admits he could have killed someone.
"No one else should do anything like that, especially if they have a family with kids.
"I actually thought that was it, I was going to prison, when the prosecutor read it all out.
"I brought my bag, I was ready to go. I'm so relieved. I just want to go back to see my boys now."
Defending Jolly, Catherine Bradshaw said her client was in an "unfortunate state of affairs", has a "strong work ethic" having worked as a groundworker, gardener, window fitter and mechanic, and had an autistic child to care for.
"Prison will be a backwards step," she said.
"But he realises he should have thought about that driving in the early hours of New Year's Day and one thing he does is bitterly regret that."
Recorder Christopher Chandler also disqualified Jolly from driving for three years, ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, do a "thinking skills" programme, complete an 18-month supervision order, and handed him a conditional discharge for cannabis possession and told him to pay £300 costs.
Recorder Chandler said Jolly's actions were "extremely dangerous" and that he was "effectively sticking up two fingers to the police car".
Mr Chandler added: "But what is really important in my view is you learn to be able to conduct yourself responsibly in the community."
