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Driver led police on a high-speed chase
A DRIVER who led police on a high speed chase around the Fylde coast before crashing into a hedge has been jailed.
Roy Walton hit speeds of 70 to 80mph and went through two red lights as he tried to evade arrest after failing to show up for an appointment with police.
His passenger went on to tell officers she had never been so scared in her life.
The 35-year-old, from Whalley Crescent, Staining, was jailed for 12 months at Preston Crown Court after admitting dangerous driving while banned and without insurance.
He was appearing in court from prison where he was serving an eight-week sentence for driving while disqualified and having an offensive weapon.
For 20 minutes he led officers on a pursuit through North Shore, Layton, Blackpool, Staining and Green-halgh, the court heard.
At one stage he aimed his car at a pursuing police vehicle and would have crashed into it head-on, had the officer behind the wheel not taken evasive action.
Brett Gerrity, prosecuting, said the defendant went through the 30mph zone in Layton at speeds touching 70mph.
He then passed through two red lights at speed on Collingwood Avenue and Beech Avenue. The defendant then hit 80mph and failed to obey a give way sign when passing under a bridge on Fairfield Road.
Later, he sped down a narrow one-track lane in Staining before crashing into a hedge on Bradshaw Lane, Greenhalgh.
He added: "The defendant reversed his vehicle at the police car in pursuit.
"Had it not been for the officer's evasive action, the defendant's vehicle would have collided. As it was, the vehicle connected with the nearside of the police vehicle.
"Moments later the stinger device was activated. It was done twice as the first attempt did not succeed in bringing him to a standstill."
The court heard the incident happened early one morning in August and possibly covered 20 miles. A DVD recording from a police pursuit vehicle was played incourt.
The passenger later told police how a taxi driver had had to swerve to avoid a collision.
Walton told officers he had been trying to evade arrest over missing a police bail appointment over the disqualified driving and offensive weapon claims.
He had taken some amphetamine at 10pm the previous evening but did not think it would affect his driving.
Chris Hudson, defending, added: "This is not the worst example of dangerous driving.
"It was not a particularly long distance. There is no evidence whatsoever of any other road users or pedestrians being inconvenienced or endangered.
"It is not a case of pedestrians jumping for safety or cars swerving left, right and centre to avoid him."
Judge Andrew Woolman told Walton: "Overall, it was an appalling piece of driving but I don't think it's the worst I've ever seen."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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