A dad who told police officers "see you later" before leading them on a high-speed chase near to Alder Hey Children's Hospital wept as he was spared prison.
Mark Farrell mounted the pavement outside the hospital during a pursuit in which he also ran red lights and caused other drivers to swerve in order to avoid crashes as he reached speeds of up to 60mph on 30mph roads after fighting in a car park in front of his toddler. But the 34-year-old, of Henley Avenue in Litherland, walked free from Liverpool Crown Court today.
The ECHO previously reported that he had arranged to meet his ex-girlfriend in a public place in order to drop off their two-year-old daughter, whom they shared custody of, at around 6pm on January 25 last year. However Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how an altercation erupted when his former partner attended alongside several relatives after they had attended a funeral together.
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He said: "The defendant was abusive and aggressive to his ex when they met. It spilled out into a car park.
"There was a scuffle or fight between the defendant and a male family member. A woman took her phone out to film the defendant and he knocked the phone out of her hand, hitting her hand."
Police were called to scene and found Farrell's white BMW parked directly behind his ex's vehicle, preventing her from leaving. One officer attempted to talk to him, but "he was short with her because she was female".
He then attempted to drive away in his car as a male officer approached him and told him "you're not going anywhere". Mr Hopkins added: "The defendant was to say 'see you later' and drive away with his wheels spinning."
Farrell subsequently drove at speed along East Prescot Road, mounting the pavement at the junction of Eaton Road and then turning "at high speed" onto Alder Road, near to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. He performed a U-turn at Queens Drive and continued to drive recklessly, "swerving in and out of lanes to overtake other cars" and causing other drivers to brake suddenly.
Heading back onto East Prescot Road, police were ordered to stop their pursuit as it was deemed too dangerous. Farrell would eventually be arrested two days later.
Julian Nutter, defending, told the court this morning: "There is now to be a baby due from his fiancée, who is in court. He is starting to pick up the piece of the life that fell apart."
Mr Nutter previously reported that his client had struggled with mental health problems and added: "Thankfully there was no accident. This was a wholly exceptional aberration in an otherwise blameless life."
Farrell admitted dangerous driving and assault during an earlier hearing and returned to court to be sentenced on Monday. He appeared to be wiping tears away with a tissue in the dock as he was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years.
Sentencing, Recorder Simon Killeen said: "On January 25, you involved yourself in disgraceful sequence of events. Returning your then two-year-old daughter to her mother, you engaged in completely inappropriate arguing and bickering in front of that little girl.
"It does not reflect well upon you. Things got worse, as you were unhappy with the circumstances surrounding her return.
"You assaulted her mother by smacking her phone out of her hand. A motor car is a potentially lethal weapon.
"This was a prolonged piece of dangerous driving. The police were so concerned about the quality of your driving that they cancelled the pursuit.
"This was truly extremely dangerous. You ended up driving along the pavement near an entrance to a hospital that specialises in the care of children.
"You are a person of hitherto good character. You are a person who, in many other respects, has had positive aspects to your character.
"You have been beset by some mental health difficulties. There is some prospect of rehabilitation in your case.
"You are struggling to get your own life back together. You have committed no further offences.
"You are to be a father again. You are still a relatively young man and you have many things that are positive in your life right now.
"For me to send you to prison would be a complete undoing of that progress. It is for those reasons that I am prepared to step back and say you can be punished within the community to allow you to move on."
Farrell was also given 120 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days, as well as being told to complete a relationships programme. He was banned from driving for 12 months and given a five-year restraining order.
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