Burnley motorist jailed for high speed police chase

Burnley Crown Court heard Paul Chester, 20, almost mowed down an officer and went on the wrong side of the road and through a red traffic light before crashing.

Two 17-year-old female passengers in the vehicle were terrified and needed hospital treatment for whiplash injuries. At the time the defendant had been subject to a suspended jail term.

Chester, of Padgate Place, Burnley, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance. He was sent to prison for 34 weeks and the 120-day suspended term was activated.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said that on May 8 the defendant was spotted just after midnight, driving towards Colne Road.

Officers’ attention was drawn to the vehicle as he had his fog lights on, they went to follow him and he drove off at high speed. The two girls were frightened and tried to get him to stop.

Police lost the car but at about 1.20am they found it again, near to the town centre. There was a short-lived pursuit through several residential areas, going towards the hospital. The defendant repeatedly mounted the kerb and went on the opposite side of the road.

Miss Statham said on Angle Street, police tried to block the road and an officer stood on the pavement as Chester drove towards him. The defendant did not slow down, went onto the pavement and the officer had to jump onto the police car bonnet to avoid being run over.

Chester carried on at speed on the wrong side of the road and across junctions without making any attempt to stop. He went past the hospital, towards a roundabout, but clipped the kerb and lost control.

The prosecutor added the defendant and the two girls got out and tried to run away.

He was not caught that night by police but the two girls were taken to hospital.

Chester was eventually arrested and questioned on May 22.

The defendant had 15 previous convictions, starting in the youth court, and had been to prison.