Bolton: Siblings face court after Chorley New Road crash

Botond Berzsenyi, 23, was driving a Mercedes at speeds of over 80mph on Chorley New Road on the way into Bolton on April 22 when he has pursued by police.

Bolton Crown Court heard how this only came to an end after he collided with another car, leaving it lying on its roof, and made off from the officers on foot before persuading his sister Barbara Berzsenyi, 19 to claim that the car had in fact been stolen.

Mark Stephenson, prosecuting, said: “There is no doubt that she knew her brother was the driver but she perpetuated it and when she was confronted with it, she admitted it.”

He added: “The crown would say that this was particularly bad dangerous driving at high speeds on a busy road.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Stephenson told the court how Botond Berzsenyi, of Leigh Road, Hindley Green, had bought the car but had registered it in sister Barbara’s name.

Police noticed him appearing to talk on a mobile phone while driving on Chorley New Road on April 22 this year and he sped away.

After making off from police on April 22 he then persuaded her to claim to the police it had been stolen, so that they would not suspect him of being the driver.

But their deception quickly unravelled after police seized Barbara’s mobile phone and found a series of messages between them alluding to the plan to claim the car had been burgled.

The pair were arrested and having previously pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and perverting the course of just, Botond Berzsenyi changed his plea to guilty when brought to trial.

His sister Barbara pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice when she was brought before the magistrates court.

Michael James, defending, Botond, told the court that the 23-year-old expressed ‘clear regret and remorse’ for his actions and that in particular he regretted getting his sister involved.

By the time of the hearing he had already been in custody for five and a half months and this had, according to Mr James, given him a sobering lesson in the consequences of his actions.

Mr James said: “He says that his time in custody has been a salutary lesson about his behaviour and he is sorry for getting his sister involved as well.”

Ronan Maguire, defending, Barbara, told the court that she had been of previous good character with no previous convictions and that she deserved credit for having pleaded guilty at the first possible opportunity.

He argued that she had clearly played a lesser role compared to her brother.

Recorder Ciaran Rankin accepted that the older brother was ‘clearly the prime mover in this case’ and reminded the court of the effect he had had on the car he caused to overturn.

He said: “The occupants of the car were literally hanging from their seatbelts because of the collision, they must have been terrified."

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Recorder Rankin sentenced Botond Berzsenyi to 22 months in prison.

Turning to Barbara Berzsenyi, he said that her crime had been motivated by 'perhaps a misplaced sense of loyalty' to her brother but accepted she 'came to her senses quickly.'

Recorder Rankin sentenced her to four months, suspended for 24 months and ordered her to complete 150 hours of unpaid work with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.