Community order for driver who led police on danger chase around Whitchurch
A driver went the wrong way round a roundabout, hit a police car and ran a red light during a high-speed chase around Whitchurch, a court heard.
Adrian Birch led police on a chase around the town and surrounding villages, going over speed limits and driving on the wrong side of roads, before returning to a pub car park where he ditched his van and made off.
He handed himself in to police the following day, before pleading guilty to one count of dangerous driving.
He was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday, where Judge Anthony Lowe said: “Even though it was 2am that does not mean there is no traffic, and someone else’s life might have been ended or they could have been caused serious injury.”
Prosecutor Kevin Jones told the court police were called to a burglary in the Newport Road area on November 20, 2017.
A van was spotted on a grass embankment with its lights on and engine running.
The van then made off over a pavement and away from police, who followed with blue lights on.
Mr Jones explained it was since discovered the van had no connection with the suspected break-in.
Speed
The prosecutor said Mr Birch took a roundabout near Bridgewater Street on the wrong side of the road, before running a red light, and mounting a pavement.
His speed began to increase, and officers said 34-year-old Birch, of High Street, Whitchurch, was speeding around blind bends.
He went through areas of Whixall where Mr Jones said the defendant was doing 80mph in a 60mph area, and 55mph in a 30mph area in Welshampton.
He said: “He was on the wrong side of the road for long periods.”
At one point, Birch over shot a corner and hit an embankment, and when going over a hump back bridge, he reversed and hit the police car, however, Mr Jones said it was not intentional.
He went back into the town centre of Whitchurch, and drove into the car park of The Anchor and Red Cow pubs, getting out of the moving vehicle, before running off with the van hitting a wall.
He pleaded guilty to the offence at Telford Magistrates Court in November last year.
Andrew Holland, defending, said his client was in possession of drugs, but they were not his.
He said: “Mr Birch is under no illusions over the seriousness of this case.”
Birch was given a 12-month community order with 13 rehabilitation days, and a 28-day curfew between 9pm and 7am.
He was fined £2,500 and banned from driving for 18 months and will have to take a re-test.
