A Brighton man has been jailed for dangerous driving after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car across three counties.
Jack Watson, 35, of Hartfield Avenue, Brighton, was jailed for 18 months by Judge Michael Leeming at Chester Crown Court on Friday (19 April).
Watson, who was already banned from driving, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at an earlier hearing.
He was given another driving ban – for 30 months – and told that he would be required to pass an extended re-test before having his full licence back.
Cheshire Constabulary said: “Officers from Cheshire police responded to reports that a silver Seat Ateca had been seen swerving on the M6 motorway in Cheshire.
“Officers quickly located the vehicle that was being driven by Watson, near junction 22 of the M6, travelling at excess speeds through a 50mph roadworks area.
“Between Junctions 25 and 26, when out of the roadworks area, two police patrols made attempts to stop Watson’s vehicle but he failed to stop and continued to flee from police, with officers then engaging in a pursuit.
“Watson exited the motorway at the last moment at junction 27 of the M6, pulling in front of an HGV also leaving the motorway, and headed toward Shevington, near Wigan.
“Officers continued in their pursuit of Watson, who continued to drive in excess of the speed limit and in a dangerous manner through the villages of Shevington, Gathurst, Orrel, Longshaw and Billinge, in Merseyside.
“The pursuit concluded in Billinge when Watson collided with residential property and parked car.
“Such was the impact that he destroyed both vehicles and caused thousands of pounds worth of structural damage to the house.
“Despite being injured, Watson continued to evade police, decamping from the crashed vehicle and fleeing on foot from officers.
“He was later found hiding in the rear garden of the house he had crashed into.
“Following his arrest, officers discovered that Watson had obtained the car from a rental company before he had been insured and given permission to drive the vehicle.
“They also found that he was subject to a current disqualification from driving for similar offences.
“Watson refused to answer any questions, aside from the fact that he was disqualified from driving.
“Despite this, he was subsequently charged with dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
“The 35-year-old appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 19 April where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.”
The court was told that Watson had 26 previous convictions for 60 offences including three robberies and five counts of driving while disqualified.
Cheshire Constabulary said: “Jack Watson’s decisions that day not only endangered the lives of other road users and the officers pursuing him but he also risked seriously harming members of the public sat inside what is meant to be the safety of their own home.
“When Watson’s vehicle eventually came to a stop, which was a result of his reckless driving and thinking he could outrun police, he caused considerable damage to a vehicle he did not have permission to drive or own, a parked vehicle and the exterior of someone’s home.
“All of this would have been avoided if Watson had not got behind the wheel that day.”
“The court was told that Watson had 26 previous convictions for 60 offences including three robberies and five counts of driving while disqualified.”
Why is he not banned from driving for life? He’s a danger to himself and other road users and has no place behind a wheel.
Omg have you seen and heard how many sussex police officers brake driving laws and brake the law full stop ??? How they get away with breaking the law by retirement due to stress or injury then there is the money that sussex police use to cover up there mistakes and abuse of the public they offer stupid amounts get poor victims to sign legal papers saying you can never make anything public or talk about it ever again and I know this because I know someone who breached the legal order had 20 grand taken back and was put in court sussex police are one of the top forces bang at this and its so hard to expose and I can’t say to much but I’ve even taken drugs with 2 police men who at the time I didn’t know what there job was till days later nicked me drunk and said to the desk Sargent can’t deal with him we know his family then there is if someone really looked in to sussex police how many officers have been offered early retirement NO most if looked in to professional by some independent they would see that most of them early retirement officers had been under investigation and bent and that’s sussex polices way of covering up what a mess sussex police is and bent and broken so people digging out the public try digging out sussex police and they have a new drive train joins us get full pay and your uni course paid for its done in 3 years so now we have 19 year cid Sargents that have had no life experiences we have people who don’t want to work for sussex police but want there uni paid and money for the next 3 years and I’ve seen and spoken to some of these new officers and heard and seen videos of this and its all about uni getting paid over 3 years then fuck the police start my dream job that’s the only reason I work there omg what a mess and if the public look all what I’ve said is out there look at the police program on 4 a front line police office out protecting the public on TV saying on TV I’m at a domestic omg I don’t know how to deal with this I’m going to call my line Sargent really he’s a front line officer dealing with something so serious and he has to call for advice then there is other officers that pull out books when dealing with criminals and this is why we have junkies dealing openly jacking up and dropping needles all over Brighton the evidence and what’s going on is shocking in this day and age and till sussex police get there house in order parts of Brighton will be no go zone’s soon
Not much of a life, is it.
What a total nobody