‘Legless’ driver’s 129mph bid to flee police chasers
A “LEGLESS” drunk drove at nearly 130mph in a stolen BMW on the A55 before stopping after an 11-mile police chase.
Philip John Scarisbrick, 34, of Old Swan, Liverpool, weaved among other cars, changing lanes and braking hard, and forced other drivers to take evasive action, Caernarfon Crown Court heard last Wednesday.
Prosecutor Jayne La Grua said Scarisbrick, a labourer and father-offour, drove from Liverpool in the car belonging to the aunt of Holyhead man Cain Jones.
Ms La Grua said Jones, 20, of Cybi Close, Holyhead, had taken the car from outside his aunt’s house in the town.
She said Jones had taken the black Series 3 BMW to go for a night out in Liverpool.
On October 8, the car was being driven back to Anglesey by Scarisbrick, who was accompanied by Jones and another youth, when police tried to stop it at about 6.15pm.
After an officer put his blue lights on twice, the car stopped at Junction 7 near Gaerwen.
But when the officer stepped out of his car, the BMW sped off.
Video from the police car showed the BMW being driven at speeds of 129mph and the occupants threw mobile phones from the car.
Ms La Grua said Scarisbrick was “clearly drunk”.
After Scarisbrick refused and then failed to give a breath test, another one taken four hours later showed his breath-alcohol count was 85 – more than twice the limit of 37.
Ms La Grua said he had an appalling record for motoringring offences.
Ffion Tomos, , for Scarisbrick, admitted he was “intoxicated” at the time.
Sentencing Jones to eightt months susspended for two years, Judge Geraint Walters said he had pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.
Sentencing Scarisbrick, Judge Walters said: “You knew that the car belonged to his relative and ended up driving it.
“You were weaving back and forth. If all of that wasn’t bad enough, you were driving dangerously.
“You could have ended up facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. It is astonishing that you were driving at speeds of nearly 130mph and legless.”
Judge Walters sentenced Scarisbrick to 12 months in jail for driving while banned, driving dangerously and failing to provide a breath sample.
There was no separate punishment for having no insurance. Scarisb Scarisbrick was banne banned from driv driving for t three years and ordered t to take an extended test.
PC Scott M Martin from No North Wales Pol Police’s Roads Polici Policing Unit said: “It is very sad that a small number of motorists still feel they can behave in a totally reckless manner when they take to the roads.
“People who drive in this manner are taking their lives and the lives of others into their own hands.
“North Wales Police have a robust strategy in enforcing the Fatal 5 offences, one of which is dangerous driving.
“I welcome the sentence given and hope it sends a strong message to anyone who considers driving dangerously to be acceptable.”