A former student broke into his parents’ home, attacked his father and took his mother’s car which he then crashed into metal barriers in York city centre.
James Macmahon, 26, pushed his father over when he answered the door and darted out of the house with the car keys, York Crown Court heard.
As his parents called police, Macmahon sped through the city centre, followed by police, before crashing into a barrier on a traffic island, said prosecutor Rob Galley.
Macmahon was arrested and charged with aggravated vehicle-taking, forcing entry to premises, dangerous driving and assaulting his father Robert Macmahon.
He admitted the offences, which occurred on November 29 last year, and appeared for sentence via video link after being remanded in custody.
Mr Galley said Macmahon’s parents were watching TV when they heard the doorbell ring. His father opened the door slightly and Macmahon pushed his way in.
His father was “knocked over onto the floor” by his son, who was acting “very aggressively”.
Macmahon went into the kitchen and ran out with the key for his mother’s car. He drove off in the car and police went looking for him.
“They realised the car had just passed them near Fishergate,” said Mr Galley.
They began to follow Macmahon, who was driving “erratically” and at “excessive speed” for a “relatively busy road and in a built-up area”.
Macmahon lost control and crashed into a barrier on a traffic island, which left the car a write-off.
Restraining order
The crash was witnessed by members of the public who told police that Macmahon had been “zig-zagging” across the road “as if he couldn’t decide which route to take”. Macmahon, of Newland Park Drive, York, was arrested and taken into custody.
He had previous convictions for damaging property including at a hospital where he was receiving mental-health treatment. He also had a conviction for stealing a bike.
In statements read out in court, Macmahon’s parents said they were “extremely concerned” about their son, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
His father said he was “tired of being the (receiving) end of the aggressive behaviour”, particularly when his son was “under the influence of substances”.
His mother said her son was intelligent and “motivated” when he was at university and had intended to join the army, but his mental-health issues “seem to have taken this away from him”.
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Nick Peacock, for Macmahon, said the former student was a “complex young man” who was “clearly having some sort of mental-health episode” when he forced his way into his parents’ home.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said there was “no point” jailing Macmahon because he had already served more time on remand than could be imposed for the offences, and he wouldn’t get the help he needed.
Instead, Macmahon was given a two-year community order and a 50-day rehabilitation programme.
He was also made subject to a two-year restraining order banning him from going to his parents’ home and workplace in York. He was banned from driving for 12 months.