A MAN took his estranged partner from Darwen on a terrifying journey at speeds of up to 90mph before hitting a group of pedestrians.

Yesterday Judge Steve Everett called on the government to increase the maximum sentence for dangerous driving after he was obliged to sentence Christopher Marr to 26 months in jail.

Judge Everett told 23-year-old Marr that had his dangerous driving resulted in the death of any of the teenagers hit he would have received eight years in jail.

Peter Cave, prosecuting, told how drunken Marr began his night of horror by repeatedly sending text messages to his estranged girlfriend Annabel Walker as she enjoyed a night out in Bolton on August 21.

Mr Cave told how Marr, from Stone Street, Tonge Moor, had taken a taxi to her home in Darwen, getting into her house through a side window and failing to pay his fare.

Ms Walker also went home by taxi and her house door was opened by Marr, who was holding a knife.

The pair argued, with Marr accusing her of seeing another man in Bolton and grabbed the keys to her VW Golf saying he was going to confront him.

“She went with him, hoping to prevail upon him to calm down. She was unsuccessful in that hope,” said Mr Cave.

During a terrifying journey Marr drove at speeds of up to 90mph on the A666, driving completely on the wrong side of the road as he passed the Entwistle reservoir.

Marr ignored screams and pleas from Ms Walker, sitting in the back seat to stop and let her out.

In Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, he hit a lamppost, overturning the car and hitting the group of teenagers walking along the pavement.

Pedestrians Devon Foster, 14, George Coleman, 16, and 15-year-old Jacob Fear were seriously injured.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a licence or insurance, failing to provide a specimen and making off without payment.

Nick Ross, defending, said Marr expressed “sorrow and regret” for the injuries he caused and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Click on the link below for more on this story on the Bolton News website.