Cocaine-fuelled police-chase mum sped on pavements
A COCAINE-fuelled mum led police on a terrifying high-speed chase.
Emma Ramsden, 39, drove a stolen car on the wrong side of a dual carriageway and swerved onto pavements on residential roads in Didsbury, Withington and Burnage.
Manchester Crown Court heard she purchased the Nissan Qashqai, which had been taken during a burglary some five days earlier, in order to sleep in it.
Whilst high on cocaine, she was spotted by an officer on patrol attempting a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre – nearly colliding with the oncoming police motorbike.
Prosecutor, Claire Brocklebank, told the court that a chase then ensued, which lasted for around 10 minutes before Ramsden lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. Terrifying dashcam footage shows Ramsden driving on the wrong side of the A34 dual carriageway through Burnage and Didsbury, forcing oncoming cars to swerve out of the way. The vehicle could also be seen driving at speeds of up to 60mph in residential areas, and mounting the pavement a number of times to evade police.
Ramsden only stopped the vehicle after a police stinger was deployed, causing her to lose control of the car and crash into a tree, Ms Brocklebank said. The court heard that the mum, who has a long history of drug addiction, has numerous previous convictions for driving offences, theft and dishonesty.
Defending Ramsden, Rhia Abukhalil said her client had not used any drugs since being taken into custody a month ago.
“She has a long standing addiction to drugs. She got herself into a good relationship and had contact with her children and abstained from drugs for five years,” Ms
Abukhalil said. “When that relationship ended she began to lose contact with her children and got into a bad relationship with a drug user which got her into use crack cocaine again. “She has not had any substances since she has been in custody and she says she feels much better and motivated. She
accepts how serious the offences are. She is very sorry.
“The reason she obtained the car was opportunistic. She wanted to get the car to sleep in. She said she didn’t want to stay sleeping in a crack den but she had limited means to do so.”
Ramsden, of Bury Road, Bolton, was jailed for 16 months after admitting dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drugs, driving a vehicle without insurance, handling stolen goods and driving without a licence.
Sentencing, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said: “This is a very sad example of how low becoming addicted to drugs can leave you. You were reduced to buying a car to sleep in. You then drove in quite an appalling way putting other road users at risk of serious harm.
“You were over the limit for having cocaine in your blood. This offence is so serious that only a custodial penalty can be imposed.”
Ramsden was also disqualified from driving for four years and eight months and will be ordered to take an extended retest.
This is a very sad example of how low becoming addicted to drugs can leave you Judge Suzanne Goddard QC