Van driver who rammed police car caused £10k of damage after high-speed chase through busy Blackpool streets

A van driver who rammed a police car after a high-speed chase through the busy streets of Blackpool has been jailed.

A court heard that, in his efforts to avoid arrest, Jordan Gorman drove on the wrong side of the road and straight across a mini-roundabout, narrowly avoiding head-on collisions with other vehicles.

When he was eventually cornered he deliberately drove at officers in a patrol car causing around £10,000 worth of damage. The 30-year-old, who had a passenger in his vehicle at the time, was sent to prison for a total of 19 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving. He was also banned for five years.

A judge described his actions as “an appalling piece of driving, putting the public at significant risk.” Preston Crown Court heard police on mobile patrol in the centre of Blackpool at around 4pm on July 3 spotted a van which their computer showed had no insurance. They stopped next to it at traffic lights on the Promenade.

But when the lights turned to green the van took off and increased its speed in a clear attempt to get away. A pursuit ensued through streets which were busy with traffic and pedestrians on a sunny Friday afternoon.

From the centre of the resort the chase continued out to the suburbs with the van reaching speeds of more than 55mph in 30mph zones. Several times the van drove on to the opposite carriageway, forcing other drivers to stop to avoid a collision. The van went straight across a mini roundabout and narrowly missed several vehicles coming in the opposite direction.

When it eventually came to a halt the driver turned and deliberately rammed the police car causing a “significant” amount of damage. It was later established Gorman, of The Crescent, Poulton-le-Fylde, was a disqualified driver and was therefore not covered by insurance.

The prosecution said the landscape gardener was “heavily convicted” having 60 previous offences on his police record. At the time of the incident Gorman was also in breach of a suspended five-month prison sentence handed down in June. Defence barrister Adam Quine said his client had experienced a difficult upbringing, going into care at the age of 12.

“That is not an excuse at all,” he said. “But it serves as a foundation as to where this defendant must have grown from. This offending is quite surprising so soon after the defendant’s suspended sentence order which started in June. It was a spur of the moment offence. He is extremely remorseful and is disgusted in his actions. This was an impulsive, reckless offence.

“He wants to make positive steps to change his life. He is doing everything he can to address his problems with cocaine and alcohol. Unfortunately he finds himself from time to time back in with the same crowd and getting in the same types of trouble.”

Judge Kirsty-Ann Gunn told Gorman: “When police sought to stop your van you deliberately chose not to comply.” She said he had driven through residential areas at speeds in excess of 55mph in a 30 zone “repeatedly driving on the wrong side of the carriageway and narrowly avoided a head-on collision”. Eventually he had rammed the police car.

“You carried a passenger who must have been terrified during all this. You got into that vehicle knowing you were disqualified. It was a deliberate, persistent and prolonged piece of dangerous driving.”

Judge Gunn jailed Gorman for 14 months for dangerous driving but gave no separate penalty for driving while disqualified and without insurance. She activated the five-month suspended sentence from a previous hearing, making a total of 19 months in prison.

He was disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to pass an extended driving test before he is allowed to get behind the wheel again.