Police car rammed in Leeds high-speed chase

A BANNED driver who rammed a police car during a high-speed chase through Leeds and stole two cars in a garage burglary while on bail has been jailed for three years.

Leeds Crown Court heard police recognised disqualified driver Ashley Roberts behind the wheel of a grey Toyota car on Nowell Mount, Harehills, and gave chase just after 7pm on August 11.

Roberts, 23, sped off towards East End Park and drove on the wrong side of the road at 60mph in 30mph zones.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Toyota narrowly missed a bus after Roberts drove through a red light on Osmondthorpe Lane, Osmondthorpe.

Prosecutor, Kirsten Mercer said Roberts drove over a pedestrian crossing at 68mph just after someone had crossed and went on to overtake two cars on the wrong side of the road.

The Toyota crashed into a garden fence and rammed a police car which tried to block his path.

The court heard Roberts lost control of the car again and crashed into a wall. He was arrested and later released on police bail.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Mercer said Roberts, of Osmondthorpe Lane, Osmondthorpe, was part of a gang who stole two cars and tools during a burglary at Personal Touch Vehicle Services on Seaforth Road, Harehills, overnight on September 28.

The garage owner spotted Roberts and two others on CCTV pushing a Vauxhall Corsa away from the scene.

Police had previously spotted Roberts driving while disqualified on Low Road, Hunslet, on July 26.

Roberts admitted dangerous driving, two charges of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and burglary.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In June, Roberts was sentenced to four-months in prison, suspended for 12 months after being convicted of harassment.

Mitigating, Graham Parkin said: “He was, as he said, under stress. All he wanted to do was go home and drive off. He knows he shouldn’t have done it.”

Jailing Roberts for three years and banning him from driving for two years, Judge Tom Bayliss QC told him: “You were driving at up to double the speed limit in areas where the public were put at risk, children playing outside were at risk and other road users.”

Related topics: