Leeds shoplifter rammed police car during 100mph motorway chase

Winston Ashman, 21 put lives at risk as he tried to get away from officers after stealing from shops at Guiseley Retail Park.

Leeds Crown Court was shown police dashcam footage of Ashman's Vauxhall Astra reaching speeds of up to 100mph on December 28 last year.

David Ward, prosecuting, said police signalled for Ashman to stop but he sped off down a slip road onto the M1 southbound at 80mph.

He narrowly avoided a collision with a lorry before leaving the motorway.

Ashman approached a roundabout at 90mph and sped around it.

He then headed back onto the motorway and reached 100mph in the northbound carriageway.

One of the police officers tried to keep Ashman in the outside lanes but the defendant swerved and attempted to ram it onto the slip road.

Ashman's car came to a halt when in broke down. Officers could smell cannabis in the vehicle.

The defendant had two female passengers.

Stolen cosmetics worth £685 and clothing worth £146 were found in the car.

Mr Ward said Ashman and a female had taken the items from Boots and Next and left without paying for them.

Ashman, of Throstle Avenue, Middleton, Leeds, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and two counts of theft.

He has previous convictions for violence, dishonesty offences and vehicle crimes.

Shila Whitehead, mitigating, said Ashman pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Judge Robin Mairs said: "It is one of the most appalling examples of dangerous driving that I have seen.

"You were determined.

"You were quite willing to cause damage and run the risk of catastrophic damage.

"You had no regard for the lives of any other road user, either civilian or police.

"You had no regard for the lives of your passengers."

Ashman was jailed up for 14 months and disqualified from driving for four years and eight months.