Drug-driver crashed after 70mph pursuit
A DRUG-driver who reached speeds of 70mph while leading police on a citycentre pursuit only stopped when he crashed into a parked car, a court heard.
Steven Gorst, 29, was jailed for 10 months after getting behind the wheel while three times over the legal drug-drive limit, after leaving a Gay Village nightspot.
During the pursuit, which lasted a few minutes, Gorst went through red lights, narrowly avoided a car turning on to the road, and drove at 70mph in a 30mph zone.
He only stopped after crashing into the back of a stationary car on Swan Street, near the Band on the Wall.
At Manchester Crown Court he admitted dangerous driving, driving under the influence of drugs, and driving with no licence or insurance.
The court was told police were alerted by staff operating CCTV that a man who appeared to be drunk was getting into a car after leaving Club EVA on Sackville Street, just before 3am on Easter Monday.
Gorst began driving the Ford Focus and police started to follow as he continued onto Travis Street.
When he reached Great Ancoats Street they followed him as he headed towards its junction with Oldham Road.
After the crash Gorst got out of the car and ran off, but police quickly caught him, prosecutor Andrew Macintosh said.
Tests later showed he had taken cocaine. He was not over the drink-drive limit.
Defending, Patrick Harris asked for a suspended sentence to be imposed, saying the incident was a ‘short period of driving’ where no one was injured.
He said Gorst, of Bolton Road, Swinton, Salford, had taken cocaine after having some issues with his family earlier that day.
Mr Harris said Gorst suffers from mental health problems and has undergone hospital treatment.
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Smith said he could not impose a suspended sentence, because Gorst had previously displayed a ‘lack of compliance with court orders.’