Drug-driver, 37, rammed police in deadly car chase
RECYCLING WORKER WAS BAILED BUT GOT BACK IN A CAR THE SAME DAY DESPITE BAN
A DRUG-DRIVER rammed into a police car during a chase, was bailed from court – then drove dangerously again that same day, a court heard.
Lee Vesey, 37, led police on a ‘high-speed’ pursuit through Wythenshawe in February, 2019.
He rammed his Ford Transit van into a police car before abandoning his vehicle and fleeing the scene.
Police arrested him after he was located using the Force helicopter and he was found to have cocaine in his system, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Vesey, from Wythenshawe, appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court the following month and was bailed.
But on that same day, he was spotted driving dangerously again. He was eventually arrested in a bookmakers nine days later.
Prosecutor James Preece told the court how Vesey, a recycling operative, had been disqualified from driving in 2008 but had never taken an extended retest – so has been banned ever since.
Mr Preece told the court how it was around 3am in the morning on February 13, 2019, when police spotted the defendant driving his van ‘at speed.’
“An officer on patrol noticed a white Ford Transit van travelling on Greenwood Road in Wythenshawe. The defendant was driving the van at high speed”, Mr Preece said. “The officer turned to follow the van and the defendant accelerated hard.
“The Pc activated his emergency equipment and a pursuit began.” The court heard how the defendant then drove onto grass verges, along pedestrian pathways and at speeds of up to 50mph in 30mph zones. After a few minutes, he pulled into a street and as the police car pulled up behind him, Vesey rammed his van into the front of it. He then drove off again and two other police officers made chase.
After another two minutes, Vesey abandoned his van and ran from the scene. The police helicopter was used to find him and he was arrested.
Cocaine and a metabolite of cocaine were found in his system after drug tests were carried out, the court heard.
“The defendant accepted he had taken Class A drugs in his interview”, Mr Preece said. Vesey
The defendant accepted he had taken Class A drugs in his interview
James Preece, prosecuting
appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court in relation to this offence on March 4, 2019, and was bailed.
But that same day, an officer spotted him driving a silver Ford Fiesta on Hollyhedge Road at the junction with Woodhouse Lane in Wythenshawe.
“They saw the defendant driving that car and knew he was disqualified”, the prosecutor added.
Vesey was seen reversing without his lights switched on and driving the full length of a pavement away from the officer, the court was told.
On March 13, 2019, the defendant was spotted again by a security officer parking up outside a bookmakers.
The officer informed police and
Vesey was arrested inside the shop.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Claire Brocklebank said her client was ‘remorseful’ and wanted to apologise for what he had done.
“He has children who are autistic and it will be a very difficult situation for his partner if he is sent to custody”, Ms Brocklebank said.
Vesey, of Heybrook Road, Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of driving without insurance.
Judge Alan Conrad QC jailed Vesey for 18 months.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years and nine months and will have to take an extended retest.