80mph stolen car driver is jailed for 15 months

Gareth Pierce carried on trying to lose the police even when a front tyre burst when he hit the kerb.

He drove on the wrong side of the road forcing oncoming cars to swerve, mounted the pavement and went through two sets of red traffic lights at high speed.

With only three tyres, Pierce still managed to reach speeds of up to 80mph and was only caught when he hit a mound of gravel forcing the police car behind to crash into him.

Pierce, aged 20, of Ena Crescent, Leigh, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

He had earlier admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and other motoring offences.

Jailing him for 15 months, Recorder Campbell Tait told Pierce his driving had been very bad and that he had driven at excessively high speeds in a built-up area.

A police officer tried to stop Pierce, who was driving a Ford Escort XR3i, in Slag Lane, Lowton.

He refused to stop and drove off along Byron Lane at speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone, and had to brake so heavily on a bend that he momentarily lost control.

The chase continued with Pierce running two sets of red lights, driving on the opposite side of the road, causing other traffic to swerve to avoid collisions.

Along St Helens Road the XR3i reached speeds of up to 80mph. In Poplar Avenue cars were forced on to the grass verge to avoid hitting Pierce.

He then drove at 80mph along Atherleigh Way and, to avoid a queue of traffic waiting at lights, he drove on the wrong side of the road.

Outside the Rock of Ages old people's home, Pierce hit the kerb on the opposite side of the road causing the front tyre to burst.

Even with the burst tyre, Pierce drove at up to 80mph and appeared at one point to be using a mobile phone. At the end of Westland Lane, Pierce drove on to a muddy track but came to a halt when he hit a mound of gravel causing the police car behind to crash into him. He was arrested as he tried to run away.