Army ambush skills used to dodge police

Dec 1 2007 by Chloe Griffiths, The Journal

AN Army driver trained to avoid ambushes and bombs used his skills to dodge police while on a high-speed chase after threatening to kill his wife.

Lance Corporal Mark Garthwaite was employed as a bodyguard and specialist driver in Iraq – trained to protect his commanding officer from roadside bombs and ambushes.

But the 30-year-old used his expertise to lead police on a lengthy pursuit.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the non-commissioned officer had doused himself and the car in petrol while racing away from police at speeds of up to 100mph, demonstrating “considerable skill” to avoid hitting other cars.

Police were initially alerted at noon on August 8, after a distressed Garthwaite threatened his wife of seven years, Clare.

He went round to a family member’s house in Boldon Colliery where she was staying with their four children and threatened to smash the door down.

Garthwaite, who has served his country for 12 years and has an impeccable record, then claimed he would kill her, before saying he would commit suicide. He was carrying a petrol can and a lighter.

His wife called the police, but Bridey Smurthwaite, prosecuting, told the court the Coldstream Guard soldier failed to meet officers as arranged and instead a dramatic pursuit broke out, with Garthwaite running red lights and swerving round other traffic.

She said: “During the pursuit, police became concerned when, at the A184, they saw him wave a petrol can outside the driver’s window. He then poured that petrol on himself and the car.

“He did this at speed. They believed he would set himself alight.”

Footage from a police helicopter showed a lengthy chase along the A182 and A19, which was only brought to a halt when three police cars surrounded his Vauxhall Omega.

Yesterday Judge Guy Whitburn commended the three police officers, but he decided to spare Garthwaite prison after hearing of the service he had provided to his country and the lack of talented non-commissioned officers.

Robert Adams, defending, told the court that if spared prison Garthwaite hoped to join his battalion in Afghanistan, saying: “I don’t think there is a prison in the country with conditions worse than Afghanistan.”

He added: “In Iraq, he was trained to avoid ambushes and improvised devices by the side of the road to protect his commanding officer. Sadly he used these skills in the wrong way on this day.”

But he said during the chase Garthwaite, who has also served in Northern Ireland, showed considerable skill to manoeuvre round other cars.

The court also heard from Major Julian Salsbury, who said the army was keen to keep Garthwaite’s services, adding: “There is always a place in Afghanistan for good officers.”

Judge Whitburn, who described the chase as hair-raising, said: “I have to take into account the position you found yourself in and that I ought to hesitate and draw back from a decision that would deprive the army of a highly-commended Lance Corporal.”

He sentenced Garthwaite to a two-year community order and ordered him to attend domestic abuse and responsible driver programmes.

He also disqualified him from driving for two years and ordered him to sign a restraining order, for the offences of dangerous driving and causing a person to be in fear of violence or harassment.

Judge Whitburn told him: “You must understand that such leniency that has been extended to you is because of the service you have given to your country over the last 12 years which have given you considerable credit.”