Christmas in jail for Telford man in motorbike chase

Kieran Spragg initially panicked and tried to flee officers when they ordered him to pull over on December 3 last year – because he did not want to spend Christmas in prison, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

But Spragg, 22, was sentenced to eight months behind bars when he appeared at court on Friday after repeatedly breaching a community order for the offence.

The court was told Spragg, of Woollam Road, Arleston, had failed to carry out any unpaid work after he attended an introductory session, despite being told to complete 60 hours as part of his punishment.

Mr Michael Grey, prosecuting, said police in Madeley had last year spotted Spragg riding a Suzuki 125 off-road bike without lights while his passenger was not wearing a helmet.

After officers flashed their lights Spragg took off, driving between 55mph and 60mph in a 40mph zone, jumping red lights and at one point driving on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Grey said Spragg had attempted to drive down a dirt track but had lost control of the bike and abandoned it. He was later arrested and admitted the offences to police in interview.

Spragg was originally sentenced on August 14 to a 24-month community order, including 60 hours of unpaid work.

But the court was told the defendant had already been prosecuted for breaching the order, and had failed to attend any of the unpaid work sessions after a two-and-a-half hour introduction session.

Mr Grey said Spragg had 18 previous convictions covering 35 offences, including burglary of a commercial premises and 10 breaches of community orders.

Mrs Debra White, for Spragg, said that her client's father had recently died.

"There has been a lessening in his offending," she added. "It is hoped that the loss that he suffered will give him some maturity."

She said that if the judge was considering a custodial sentence that it should be suspended to give Spragg one more chance and allow him to be with his family to help with their bereavement.

Judge Robin Onions said: "At this time you seem incapable of learning lessons other than the hard way. You have had your chance, you were given another, and you have not taken it."