Woman led police on chase through Kettering...with phone used to call cops found inside car

Officers who stopped a car after a pursuit through Kettering were in for a surprise as they called the number that rang them...when a phone inside the vehicle started ringing.

Lauren Hubbard, 20, will be sentenced for dangerous driving next month after leading police on a chase on the force's busiest night of the year, New Year's Eve.

At about 10.30pm Northamptonshire Police's control room received a call about a black Vauxhall Astra driving erratically, with the caller suspecting drink-driving.

Officers deployed and, after a chase from the A6003 in Corby to Kettering and through Melton Street and Grafton Street, it was eventually stopped in Northfield Avenue.

A police spokesman said that, because officers were suspicious about the legitimacy of the calls, they decided to call the number that rang the control room.

And, the spokesman added, when they did a phone inside Hubbard's car started ringing - with the officer's phone number on the screen.

Hubbard and her twin sister Naomi, both of Desborough Road in Stoke Albany, were originally charged with wasting police time.

But at Northampton Magistrates' Court earlier this year those charges were dropped and Lauren was instead charged with dangerous driving.

Last week at Northampton Crown Court she admitted dangerous driving and will be sentenced on July 16, where she faces a possible custodial sentence.

A police spokesman said: “Lauren Hubbard’s driving fell well below the standards we would expect to see on our roads in Northamptonshire and we’re pleased that she has pleaded guilty to the offence of dangerous driving.

“The biggest killer in Northamptonshire is road death and so it is critical that everyone uses our roads carefully and safely.

“We sincerely hope Lauren Hubbard has learnt her lesson after the events of New Year's Eve.”