A danger driver who crashed into a brick wall at the end of a 105mph police chase has been spared immediate prison.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how a PC began pursuing 37-year-old Ryan Charters just after 9pm on April 27.
Charters was driving at excessive speed in an Audi A4 which belonged to another man.
After travelling through numerous red lights through central Workington, Charters headed out of town and on to the A595, overtaking a vehicle which was slowing to turn right.
“That brought him into conflict with oncoming traffic and a near miss with an ongoing vehicle,” said Brendan Burke, prosecuting.
Dashcam footage released by police shows the officer hitting 105mph in a bid to stop him in his tracks.
But despite the PC aiming to keep Charters out of Workington, he headed back into the town where a deployed stinger device puncture the tyre of the car but did not disable it.
Charters almost lost control of the vehicle but was said to hit 70mph, heading through more red lights and contravening a “stop” sign while also travelling along narrow residential roads lined with parked vehicles. “Until he crashed into a brick wall in a car park,” said Mr Burke. “He attempted to flee the scene but was detained.”
Charters, of John Street, Workington, provided a positive drug wipe test which indicated cocaine use, but did not face prosecution for that.
However, during a first court appearance he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and having no insurance. He was said to have an unusual criminal record featuring some offences but also extraordinarily long gaps between them.
It appeared, said Charters’ barrister Kim Whittlestone as he was sentenced, he had struggled with a drug addiction for many years. At the time of the police pursuit he was on a downward spiral but having been remanded in custody since late April he had been drug-free, while the probation service had concluded they could work with him.
Judge Richard Archer suspended an eight-month prison term for the maximum term of two years and ordered Charters to undergo rehabilitation and complete 180 hours’ unpaid work. Charters was also banned from driving for 18 months and must take an extended retest.
“If everything I have read about you is correct, you don’t need me to tell you how many lives you potentially could have put at risk,” said Judge Archer as he highlighted the high speed through residential and built-up areas.
But sparing Charters prison, the judge said as he concluded the hearing: “You now have the future very much in your own hands.”
