Drunk Driver Terrorises Southampton Streets, Faces Court
Shannah Cave from Tatwin Crescent, Southampton, has pleaded guilty to a string of serious charges, including dangerous driving and assaulting an emergency worker. The wild ordeal unfolded on 29 February 2020, leaving residents shaken.
Raging Row Sparks Violent Crime Spree
Southampton Crown Court heard Cave got into a heated domestic dispute on Primrose Road just before 1pm. In a fit of rage, she kicked the front door of a property, smashing it before jumping into her car. But her chaos didn’t stop there. Driving recklessly, she mounted the pavement and crashed into a neighbour’s fence, causing significant damage.
Police Confrontation Turns Dangerous
Officers finally caught up with Cave on Honeysuckle Road. A Special Constable bravely approached her vehicle, ordering her out. But Cave floored the accelerator, revving the engine and nearly running the officer down. The cop had to swerve out of harm’s way to avoid being hit.
Chase Ends with Arrest After More Mayhem
The high-speed drama continued as Cave sped off towards Eastleigh, stopping on Arnold Road. A member of the public alerted police after spotting her drink-driving. Officers found Cave still behind the wheel and quickly arrested her. While being led to the van, she assaulted an officer, adding assaulting an emergency worker to her charges.
Seven-Month Prison Sentence Suspended
On 17 February 2021, Cave was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court. She received a seven-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. She must also complete 24 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, her driving licence was revoked for three years, and she will face an extended driving test before regaining her licence.
Police Praise Brave Officers and Witnesses
Detective Constable Caroline Price said: “Shannah Cave was under the influence of alcohol when she chose to continue a domestic argument by damaging property with her car. In a highly agitated state, she drove at a police officer, narrowly avoiding serious injury. Her actions are unacceptable and could have ended in tragedy for the officer, pedestrians, or herself.”
“We commend Special Constable Gebbett for his bravery in trying to stop Cave, and thank members of the public whose evidence helped secure this conviction. Let this be a warning – drink-driving endangers everyone and we will pursue offenders relentlessly to keep our communities safe.”
