Man jailed for dangerous driving and animal welfare offences

A man who failed to care for his dogs properly, leaving them malnourished and in poor living conditions has been jailed.

Police were called by a member of the public concerned about the welfare of three dogs in a property in Bakestone Moor, Whitwell, on 5 November 2025. The caller said the dogs were left alone and no-one had been attending the property to look after them. They added that the smell coming from the property was so bad that they thought the dogs were dead.

Officers attended and found two French Bulldogs and a Weimaraner in the one bedroom flat. The dogs had no food or water and large pools of urine and excrement were all over the floors.

All three dogs were seized and a report from a vet stated the two French bulldogs were severely underweight and malnourished which had led to walking issues due to muscle loss. Both dogs had coats that were stained yellow from the urine and faeces.

The Weimaraner was slightly underweight but otherwise healthy.

Luke Overton was the only person who lived in the flat and he was subsequently arrested.

The 31-year-old told officers that he had been away for a few days visiting family and had arranged for a friend to look after the dogs. He claimed the friend had failed to do so and he wasn’t aware until several days later.

However the dogs were so emaciated that they had not been properly fed or looked after for some time.

Overton was subsequently charged with two counts of failing to ensure the needs of an animal were met. The dogs have since been rehomed.

While under investigation for the animal offences, Overton was also involved in another incident.

Officers on patrol in Chesterfield on 10 February saw a Vauxhall Insignia they believed was being used by a disqualified driver.

The driver failed to stop after the officers turned on their blue lights, driving around another police car which had been placed at a roundabout with a sign telling the driver to stop.

The Vauxhall then sped up, and during a pursuit which lasted 22 minutes, the car failed to stop at red lights, reached speeds of 120mph on the M1 and was involved in a very near miss with a lorry.

At some points during the pursuit, it was travelling along unlit roads with no lights on.

The pursuit ended when the Vauxhall crashed into a hedge.

Officers approached the vehicle and saw Overton climbing into the back seat trying to get out of the car.

Overton had been banned from driving following a previous dangerous driving offence in 2024 where he rammed two police cars.

He failed a roadside drug test and was arrested and subsequently charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance and possession of cannabis.

The 31-year-old, of Bakestone Moor, Whitwell, appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentencing on 17 April where he was jailed for a total of one year and seven months after admitting the offences.

He has been banned from driving for four years and until he has taken an extended test.

Overton has also been banned from keeping a dog for seven years.