Crime
Banned driver from Cambridge jailed after narrowly missing pedestrian
A disqualified driver who led police on a pursuit across Cambridge was found to have his stepdaughter unrestrained in the back of his van.
Rodney Anness, 42, of Mountford Close, Hauxton, Cambridge, accelerated away from officers in a Ford Transit van after they indicated for him to pull over at about 5pm on 28 September.
Anness drove over a roundabout on to Brooks Road, before overtaking queuing traffic, through red lights – narrowly missing a pedestrian with a pushchair using the crossing.
Anness continued driving along the centre of the road, forcing other motorists to move over to the kerb to avoid a collision, before going through red lights at Mill Road.
He continued to drive in the middle and on the wrong side of the road, at speeds of up to 45mph in 30mph zones.
Rodney Anness, 42, of Mountford Close, Hauxton, Cambridge, accelerated away from officers in a Ford Transit van after they indicated for him to pull over at about 5pm on 28 September.
He drove onto the one-way system at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, passing ambulance bays and the busy A&E department entrance at about 25mph before he stopped outside the mortuary.
He then jumped out of the driver’s side of the van and ran towards an alley between two of the hospital buildings.
One officer chased Anness on foot before arresting him, while another officer found the defendant’s stepdaughter sitting on the floor in the back of the van.
At Huntingdon Law Courts on 8 December, Anness was handed a one-year prison sentence for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
He was ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for a further two years.
PC Tom Selves said: “What could’ve happened doesn’t bear thinking about. Anness has shown he is a dangerous individual when behind the wheel. He blatantly disregarded the safety of others, including that of his own stepdaughter.
“We will continue to target those who present a danger to innocent road users.”
