Police seek witnesses to chase through Hove

Police are hunting a dangerous driver who forced people to jump out of his way two days ago.

Sussex Police said: “Pedestrians jumped out of the way and were lucky not to have been hit by a black VW Golf being driven dangerously through Hove on Wednesday morning (24 August).
“They went on to wave to police to show the direction the car went after it sped off at the sight of a marked police van in Montgomery Street, Hove, at about 9am before being abandoned 12 minutes later in Ellen Street, Portslade.
Now police are appealing for witnesses to come forward as they try to identify and trace the driver.
Detective Constable Jon Freeman, based at Brighton, said: “The actions of the driver of the VW Golf were extremely dangerous and it appears that it is pure luck that they did not crash into any pedestrian or vehicle. There are many people, who we wish to talk to, who had to take evasive action to avoid being hit or who waved at marked police vehicles to show them where vehicle had gone.
“We really appreciated their help at the time and ask that anyone who saw the vehicle to contact us. We’re especially interested in witnesses who were in the Hove Lagoon area. Enquiries are ongoing to identify and locate the driver of the car and bring them to justice.”
The car took the following route: Montgomery Street, north in Sackville Road and west on Coleridge Street where the police van stopped the pursuit. Members of the public called in to report seeing the car being driven erratically or waved to police searching for the car. It is known to have driven in Sheridan Terrace, west on Coleridge Street crossing over Westbourne Street. It was next seen south on Hogarth Road where the car almost hit a woman crossing the road with her four-year-old child, west on New Church Road, south on Berridale Avenue where again it almost hit a member of the public crossing the road.
The VW Golf was seen driving west on Wharf Road, south on Basin Road and left into the private road that leads to the Hove Deep Sea Anglers’ Club. It then drove through the bollards onto the Western Esplanade and turned around.
DC Freeman said: “There were many members of the public on the seafront by the Lagoon, who had to get out its way. It then made attempts or threats to ram a vehicle that went on to reverse to allow the car to mount the curb and drive out on Basin Road North. It was then found abandoned in Ellen Street, Portslade.”
Anyone who witnessed what happened is asked to contact police on 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 354 of 24/08.