Teenager was 'no match' for police after 90mph pursuit ended in foot chase

Arminas Nauseda was only 16 years old when he stumbled across his victim in bed with his sister at around 3.30am on June 3, 2019.

The teen unleashed a “barrage of blows” against his sleeping victim, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Charles Myatt, prosecuting, said the victim felt the attack lasted “five or so minutes”, adding: “He was pleading with him to stop, saying he would go, but the blows continued.”

The victim was eventually able to gather his belongings before fleeing, but he was left with swelling to his head and a suspected broken nose.

“He said it felt like a frenzy,” said Mr Myatt.

Just under a year later, on April 10, 2020, Nauseda, then aged 17, was driving a car without a license in Thorrington when he put his foot down to flee the police.

During a six-mile chase along the B1027, he reached speeds of up to 90mph, driving on the wrong side of the road, through red traffic lights and across junctions without checking for oncoming cars.

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The chase ended in Clingoe Hill, Colchester, when Nauseda crashed the vehicle before fleeing on foot.

Bodyworn footage captured police officers engaging the teenager in a short foot chase.

Judge Martyn Levett said: “He was no match for them.”

Nauseda, of Beavans Court, Great Yarmouth, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

The judge said a pre-sentence report explained the defendant had fallen in with a bad crowd of older friends, adding the teenager “no doubt thought it was fun” to take a car and drive in the way he did.

He added: “The way you ran away from them, having crashed the car – again I have watched the body-worn footage of police chasing you through that disused yard – I am bound to say they were undoubtably fitter and quicker than you and frankly you were very wise to surrender in the way you did.”

Judge Levett said “his hands were tied” when deciding sentence, due to the case coming to court at a late stage and because of guidelines dictating the sentencing of youths.

The court heard the teenager had already received a community order and a youth rehabilitation order for separate offences.

He has several previous convictions, including for drug offences, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of an offensive weapon.

Ipswich Crown Court

After hearing Nauseda is now in employment and complying with the court orders, Judge Levett said: “He seems to be doing very well, my hands are tied. This could have been dealt with ten months ago.”

He added: “I have to sentence you not as you are today, as an 18-year-old adult, but as the person who was then aged 16 when you beat the living daylights out of [the victim] because you caught him in bed with your sister.”

He said photographs showed the victim had suffered “very unpleasant” injuries.

Nauseda was sentenced to a two-year community order, comprising 100 hours of unpaid work, and banned from driving for two years.