Telford driver spared jail after 11-mile police chase
A motorist led Telford police on an 11-mile pursuit through residential streets at speeds of up to 60mph – while his partner and two young children were in the car, a court has heard.
Richard Dillon drove his Audi estate at almost twice the 30mph speed limit through Donnington, Muxton and Oakengates in Telford before deliberately ramming a police car as he tried to escape officers pursuing him.
He also headbutted an officer who tried to arrest him and police sprayed Dillon with CS gas to restrain him after he struggled violently, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
The court heard Dillon, 27, was a paranoid schizophrenic who had made several attempts on his own life, had undergone specialist treatment and had not taken his medication for two weeks at the time of the pursuit last August.
His solicitor Mr Dean Easthope said Dillon had taken his partner and children, aged seven and four, out on a drive to forget about his problems before the chase began. The court was told he had let his passengers out of the car part of the way through the pursuit.
Dillon, of Wildwood in Woodside, Telford, admitted charges of dangerous driving and common assault. He was handed a suspended eight-month prison sentence at court yesterday and also banned from driving for three years.
Mr Walter Bealby, prosecuting, told the court that two police officers in an unmarked BMW car spotted Dillon driving an Audi along an access road next to Wrekin Drive in Donnington.
He said that Dillon headed at speeds of up to 55mph in a 30mph limit for Muxton where he had to slow to 50mph for a car in front and the officers put on the emergency lights and siren. Dillon then overtook the other car and sped off, doing 60mph in 30mph roads in Donnington.
He also did 60mph in Oakengates before stopping in Charlton Street, Hartshill, reversing and ramming the police car, causing £4,600 damage.
Mr Bealby said that in Second Avenue Dillon again stopped and let his partner and their children out before hitting a wheel of the police car and driving off at speed. Officers saw the Audi collide with a Nissan Micra and Dillon ran off across Mossey Green Way, near Ketley Bank, but was caught by officers.
Mr Easthope, for Dillon, said that on the day in question his client had been to a mental health treatment centre but staff were unable to see him and so he had taken his partner and children out to ease his problems.
Judge Peter Barrie said in the long term interests of Dillon he would suspend a jail term and impose a mental health treatment order. He said Dillon would have to undergo a mental health treatment programme for 12 months.
