‘Part of me thinks I’m mad not sending you to prison’

PANICKED Samuel Egerton led police on a high speed chase through the city centre because he mistakenly believed they were trying to pull him over.

The Staffordshire Moorlands 22-year-old was driving in Cobridge when he saw a police car turn on its blue lights, and he took off at speed to avoid officers.

The officers had, in fact, been intending to stop another vehicle - but turned their attention t oegerton’s car when he sped off.

Prosecutor Ian Ball told Stoke-on-trent Crown Court: “Officers were in a marked police car on Waterloo Road shortly after midnight when they spotted a Toyota Avensis that was of interest to the police.

“They put the blue lights on and the defendant, who was driving a black Seat Leon, must have thought it was something to do with him because he drove off at speed. The police followed him instead.”

The court heard Egerton drove along Potteries Way and turned up Town Road. He went the wrong way around a roundabout before heading up Birches Head Road and contravening ‘keep left’ bollards and a stop sign.

Mr Ball said: “He was going up to 70mph in a 30mph limit, including going over speed humps. Officers kept a fair distance behind him as it was a residential area and there were several pedestrians in the area. The defendant took corners too fast, going onto the wrong side of the road.”

The officers lost sight of Egerton’s car for a short time, but he was apprehended by their colleagues shortly after abandoning his vehicle in Ludlow Street. He was twice asked to provide a roadside drug swipe but refused.

Following the incident on June 7, Egerton pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen.

The court heard he had previous convictions for careless driving and failing to report an accident and, in 2016, had been sent to a young offenders’ institute for dealing cocaine.

Samina Rashid, mitigating, said: “He is remorseful and ashamed of his behaviour. He has suffered several bereavements which have impacted severely on his mental health and he has not addressed that.

“He has a daughter and plays a significant role in her care.”

Recorder John Butterfield said Egerton, of Grange Road, Cheddleton, had narrowly avoided being locked up.

Handing him a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, the judge said: “A small part of me thinks I’m mad not sending you straight to prison, but I have only just been persuaded that I can take a different course.

Egerton must complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 40 hours unpaid work. He is subject to a twomonth curfew which means he must stay at home between 9pm and 6pm.

The defendant was also disqualified from driving for 15 months and until he passes a retest. He must pay £200 court costs.