A man panicked over impending fatherhood, leading to a dangerous police pursuit in London’s West End
London: A driver took police on a wild chase through the West End after freaking out about becoming a dad. It all started when his girlfriend revealed she was pregnant with twins while shopping at Selfridges.
Jonathan Nelson, 25, felt overwhelmed and just had to drive away. He was spotted driving erratically and, when the police tried to pull him over, he sped off. The court heard he was driving dangerously, hitting speeds of 40 to 50 mph and swerving into oncoming traffic.
Eventually, he stopped but refused a breathalyzer test. His lawyer explained that Nelson had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder after a previous miscarriage affected him deeply. The news of expecting twins triggered a panic attack, making him feel like he needed to escape.
Nelson insisted he wasn’t under the influence of anything but just couldn’t think straight when the police caught up with him. He had some past driving issues, but this incident was particularly serious.
The judge gave him a 22-week suspended prison sentence, along with community service and rehab sessions. She made it clear that his behavior was unacceptable, especially considering the dangerous situation he created in the busy streets of London.
Now, Nelson is looking to move forward, as he’s about to start a job in his family’s land management business. He also has to pay some fines related to the case.
