A court has heard how a brave police officer used his patrol vehicle to skilfully ram a car being driven at high speed the wrong way along the M6 as he sought to save lives.
Kyle Salt, 24, and a friend were inside a Vauxhall Vectra pursued by the PC — who had activated blue lights — for 23 miles on South Cumbrian roads in darkness during the early hours of February 16 2020.
Salt had taken the keys and helped himself to a vehicle belonging to his brother, Carlisle Crown Court heard toda.
It was driven through villages with 30mph speed limits at up to 70mph, and on the wrong side of rural roads; travelled the wrong way along an A590 dual carriageway; and then, incredibly, headed south on the M6 northbound carriageway, passing several junctions.
The Lancashire-based officer, Martin Wilcock, giving chase on the correct side, estimated the Vectra’s speed to be approaching 100mph. As it approached Junction 32, he estimated that the force of a collision between oncoming vehicles could be 140mph-plus — “the effect of which would have been devastating,” said prosecutor Tim Evans.
With “remarkable bravery”, PC Wilcock chose to ram the side of the Vectra, successfully stopping and disabling that vehicle, which came to a halt 200 metres up the road.
Salt was arrested with his pal, and later admitted a charge allowing himself to be carried in an unlawfully taken vehicle. “The Crown are not in a position to say who was the driver,” said Mr Evans.
PC Wilcock later told how he needed time off work and physiotherapy sessions. He did not feeling able to drive alone on his return to duty, and was uneasy at the prospect of carrying out other stops.
“This piece of driving is the most dangerous I have witnessed in my 12 years as a police officer,” he said. “I cannot fathom why anyone would drive in such a manner and place the lives of everyone concerned at risk. I truly hope I never have to perform such a manoeuvre again in my career.”
Salt, of High Lea Walk, Barrow-in-Furness, had previous offences on his record but hadn’t been in trouble since 2020. He was said to have made significant steps to turning his life around since then, was a father, employed and had addressed personal difficulties.
As a result, and accepting Salt was not the driver, Recorder Julian Shaw suspended an 18-month jail term for two years. Salt must complete 260 hours’ unpaid work, a four-month night time curfew and was banned from driving for two years.
He must also pay £500 compensation to PC Wilcock, of whom the judge said: “He had to engage in the most technical, the most dangerous and the most self-sacrificing manoeuvre. The skill level that he demonstrated in being able to hit the side of your car, thus not causing three funerals, is extraordinary.”
