A TikTok star who caused ‘havoc’ on the roads while driving dangerously at up to 90mph in her bright yellow muscle car has avoided jail after the court heard her behaviour was ‘a cry for help’.
Influencer Paige Brookes was driving her Chevrolet Coupe on the A34 in Stafford when police tried to stop her in the early hours of September 3.
A friend, concerned for her state of mind, had contacted police hours before to report that Brookes was suicidal and her whereabouts unknown.
At one point during the ‘prolonged’ chase, the mother-of-three had called the police and said she would crash her vehicle if they did not back off, but she refused to stop.
She drove at excessive speeds before arriving at Silkmore Lane, where she lost control at a roundabout and crashed into the railings. Her car spun 180 degrees before coming to a stop.
Brookes, of Stafford, admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop for officers at a hearing last month. Today she was handed a suspended jail sentence, as well as a driving ban.
PC Groves of Stafford local policing team said previously that Brookes had shown ‘a complete disregard for her own and other road users’ safety’ and had caused ‘havoc’.
Mother-of-three influencer Paige Brookes, who caused ‘havoc’ on the roads after crashing at high speed into railings and failing to stop for police has been banned from driving
Mother-of-three influencer Paige Brookes was said to have been suicidal when police began to chase her car in the early hours of September 3
Brookes was handed a suspended sentence for dangerous driving. Pictured: The TikTok star posing next to a yellow Mustang
Blonde-haired Brookes turned up at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on Friday, happily posing for a waiting photographer while wearing colourful pink-tinted sunglasses and a pinstriped grey suit.
Prosecutor Jason Dudhee said after receiving a report she was suicidal, police located her car at 2.15am after it was picked up by ANPR cameras on the A34.
Mr Dudhee added: ‘Brookes called into the call room and stated she would crash if officers did not back off and she refused to stop. The pursuit moved on to the A513. A stinger was deployed but she avoided it.
‘She sped up to 90mph on that road. At that time there was light rain and the road was damp.
‘She drove at 50mph on a 30mph road and increased to 70mph while still in a 30mph zone. She continued driving at 50mph on Silkmore Lane.
‘She tried to turn right at a mini-roundabout but lost control and collided with railings on the side of the road. This spun her car 180 degrees before it came to a stop.
‘She attempted to continue to drive but was unable to do so due to the front of her vehicle.’
Mr Dudhee added that it was a ‘deliberate course of dangerous driving’.
Brookes, of Radford Bank, Stafford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop when required by a constable.
Chris Clark, mitigating, said Brookes was of previous good character.
Mr Clark said: ‘The driving cannot be excused. It was reckless, impulsive and it is accepted that in stages it was dangerous.
‘To her credit, she was not driving at high speed on all parts of the journey. The roads were clear at that time of the morning.’
He said Brookes has suffered trauma over a number of years, but to her credit ‘she did not seek solace in the bottle’.
Mr Clark added: ‘She was breathalysed at the scene and gave a reading of zero. She had reached a very desperate situation that night. It was a cry for help.’
The online star’s social media shows her posing with a variety of exotic or vividly coloured vehicles, including a pink Range Rover Evoque convertible, a lime green Lamborghini, a yellow Ford Mustang and a pink VW Golf GTI.
Brookes has 142,000 followers on TikTok, having created a six-figure business after she left school with no qualifications at 13.
She shares her life and business wins on TikTok in a bid to be as open and honest as possible, and encourage other young women to better themselves.
Videos on the platform show her driving the Camaro to do her weekly food shop at Asda and sitting behind the wheel of the imported American coupe as she unpacks the Gucci shoulder bag she took with her to court today.
The TikTokker also posted a video addressing the police incident which landed her in court, telling her followers she was ‘in a bad place’ that day and was scared to see the cops flagging her down, so sped up.
Blonde-haired Brookes poses from the seat of the Chevrolet Camaro at the centre of the case
‘It was the stupidest mistake of my entire life,’ she added.
Last year, Brookes spoke to the BBC about growing up in the care system and starting her own business, opening a community events space.
She said: ‘Being able to go to Greggs on my lunch break in my Range Rover and put it in my little Gucci bag – all these little small things are such a (part of) a bigger picture.’
Magistrates sentenced Brookes to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. She must complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity and 150 hours unpaid work, in addition to being disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Brookes was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 surcharge.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
