A slow-moving driver who dropped his speed to 10mph as he sought to flee police during a night-time car chase in West Cumbria has been handed an immediate 10 month prison sentence.
Jack Lowrey, 21, came to the attention of officers on January 11 after he was seen driving erratically as if ‘under the influence of something’, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
Lowrey was behind the wheel of a red Ford Focus courtesy vehicle — provided by garage staff to his father — which he took without permission.
Lowrey drove away from one police constable who initially saw him stationary on Moorclose Road in Workington.
Lowrey then headed south towards Whitehaven, where a second officer activated blue lights and the siren of their patrol vehicle, which recorded Lowrey travelling at only 10mph in darkness at one stage during a 16-minute incident.
Even after the Focus clipped a kerb and had tyres punctured by a police stinging device, Lowrey drove on until he was forced to a stop against a wall as other officers intervened.
He was arrested and taken to a police station where he refused to provided an evidential sample, and shouted abuse.
Lowrey, previously of Distington, admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, failing to provide a specimen, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
The court heard that in late February this year, Lowrey had been jailed for 16 months by a judge for offending which included making a threat to kill a man while holding scissors to his throat.
Lowrey’s barrister told how he had gone ‘out of control’ and begun using alcohol to cope after his father was handed a lengthy jail term in 2023.
Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker said he had ‘little hesitation’ in finding that Lowrey was ‘heavily intoxicated’ during the police pursuit.
“This was a determined attempt, by you, to evade the police over what was in fact a lengthy pursuit,” concluded the judge, who imposed an immediate prison sentence.
Lowrey must serve a 30-month driving ban when released and must pass an extended test before being able to drive on public roads.
