Ban for dangerous driver after police chase in Leeds ends with '˜stinger' device

Wayne Cooper, 31, was pursued by police after he was seen speeding in a Volvo near to Dick Hudson’s pub on the moors near Guiseley.

Prosecutor Syam Soni told Bradford Crown Court that Cooper, who had nearly 40 previous convictions, stopped to let three passengers get out of his vehicle before setting off again at speed along Otley Road towards East Morton.

Cooper, of Hemingway Garth, Hunslet, reached speeds of 55mph as he drove through the village – which has a limit of 20mph – before running a red light and driving on the wrong side of the road in the Cottingley area.

Mr Soni said Cooper was arrested after a stinger device was used to stop the car, but during his subsequent interview he claimed the police driver was having trouble keeping up with him.

Cooper referred to the stretch of road near East Morton as the “rollercoaster” road and when he was shown dashcam footage of the pursuit he asked: “Where’s my popcorn?”

At the time of pursuit, in the early hours of July 31, Cooper was already subject to a 27-month driving ban for a previous offence of dangerous driving which resulted in a 15-month jail term in March 2016.

Barrister Stephen Uttley, for Cooper, said at that time of night the only person being endangered was the defendant himself, but Judge David Hatton QC said Cooper had no regard for orders of the court, the rules of the road or the safety of other people.

Cooper, who admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving while banned and without insurance, was disqualified again for a total of 32 months and he must take an extended driving test at the end of that new ban.