Released murderer faces new jail spell; KILLER ALMOST CRASHED HIS VAN AFTER A DRINKING BOUT.

Byline: By DAN WARBURTON

A FREED killer could be heading back behind bars after almost crashing into a police car following a drinking session.

Smoke poured from the back wheels of Jason Lawton's white van after he went through a red light and stopped just 5ft from the panda car.

And when the two officers pulled him from his Ford Transit and asked him if he had been drinking, he drunkenly boasted: "****ing loads".

The 39-year-old, from Holly Avenue, Dunston, Gateshead, claimed he had been at a friend's house and had three or four cans of lager.

But when he was handcuffed and taken to the police station, he refused to give a sample four times and began swearing at the officers.

Andrew Waters, prosecuting, said Lawton had become abusive to the officers after having a "skinful" before the near miss at around 12.50am on January 21.

At Newcastle Magistrates' Court, Lawton was told he faces a 12-week stint back behind bars following the near-accident on Kenton Road.

Gerald Stern, chairman of the bench, said: "The defendant has admitted to drinking three or four cans of lager, going over the speed limit and having no recollection of seeing an amber light.

"For that reason we prefer to hear the prosecutor's version of events."

Lawton is currently on life licence for the murder of 27-year-old Gateshead labourer Kevin Crozier nearly 18 years ago.

He pleaded guilty to the offence along with his cousin Andrew Davis after they launched a "frenzied" ambushed attack on Mr Crozier, just yards from his home on Kelvin Gardens, Dunston, Gateshead.

Armed with a snooker cue and a nail-studded wooden fence post, they rained blows on helpless Mr Crozier before leaving him in his own blood.

The onslaught only ended when the attackers fled the scene after being disturbed by nearby homeowners.

During the murder trial in 1991, the court was told hardened murder detectives were appalled by the ferocity of the attack.

Lawton pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to murder and was given a life sentence.

He was released in 2005.

Speaking after the attack, Det Supt John May, who headed the investigation, described it as a brutal attack on a defenceless man.

He said: "It was a frenzied, sustained attack on the victim which continued even after he was rendered unconscious.

"It was a cowardly and brutal and merciless attack, leaving no opportunity for the victim to defend himself.

"It continued unabated while he was on the ground totally defenceless."

Lawton will be sentenced at a later date for failing to provide a specimen after a pre-sentence report is produced.

CAPTION(S):

NEAR MISS: Lawton almost crashed into a police car; FRONT PAGE NEWS: Our story of the killing of labourer Kevin Crozier, right, which Lawton was jailed for life over