Shrewsbury driver in 130mph chase on M54 is spared jail
A Shrewsbury man who led police on a chase along the M54, reaching speeds of up to 130mph an hour, has been spared prison.
Danny Roberts of Cherry Tree Drive, had previously admitted a charge of dangerous driving and driving while over the legal limit on November 8 last year.
Judge James Tindal, sitting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, heard the 31-year-old was spotted by police officers who were travelling in an unmarked police car on the A5 in the early hours of the morning.
Ms Sally Cairns, prosecuting, said: "The officers saw a silver BMW travelling along the road in excess of 70mph at 1.15am on November 8.
"The car then reached 100mph and approached the M54. As it passed junction six the speed was at 130mph. The BMW swerved across the road markings and then back on to the main carriageway of the M54.
"At junction four the car took the exit slip road in excess of 100mph. The traffic lights at the top of the slip road were red but he went straight through them.
"As the BMW approached Castle Farm Way it was travelling at 90mph. As he approached a roundabout he overtook three cars and carried on at 90mph."
She added that the car chase carried on for eight minutes, with Roberts finally stopping in a cul-de-sac in Leegomery. There he was apprehended by police officers who could smell alcohol on his breath. A breath test taken at the police station gave a reading of 49mg in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg in 100ml.
Judge Tindal told Roberts: "You are lucky in lots of ways. You are still alive. If you had behaved like this at a different time of day you would be going straight to prison."
Roberts was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and banned from driving for four years. He was also made subject to a curfew for four months and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £100 court costs.
