Jailed: Market Drayton drug driver sped into oncoming traffic in bid to shake off police
A man from Market Drayton who led police on a dangerous pursuit in Chester before trying to abandon his vehicle was locked up earlier this month.
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Christopher Foster, of Longlands Lane in Market Drayton, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday, November 4, where he was sentenced to two years.
The 34-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug driving, driving without insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Police say at around 12.15pm on Saturday, March 4 last year, an officer in a marked police vehicle attempted to stop a silver Vauxhall Astra on the A41 in Rowton, Chester.
The Astra initially indicated and pulled into a bus stop as if to stop, however as the officer pulled in behind it, the vehicle accelerated away at speed.
The vehicle proceeded to drive on the wrong side of the road into the path of oncoming vehicles and even mounted a kerb on the opposite side of the pavement and drove down a cycle path.
It then drove through two different sets of red traffic lights at speed in heavy traffic.
The officer lost sight of the vehicle, however shortly after this, a report was received from a member of the public to say a vehicle matching the description of the Astra had been found abandoned in Hoole, Chester.
Officers identified Foster, who matched the description of the suspect driver, not far from the vehicle and he was subsequently arrested.
Foster was also shown to have been driving more than three times above the specified limit for cannabis.
On top of his custodial sentence, Foster was disqualified from driving for 45 months.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: “Foster could easily have seriously injured himself or innocent members of the public with his erratic and dangerous driving, constantly driving into oncoming traffic and even mounting pavements. It is a miracle that he did not cause a serious collision.
“And this was all in vain. Despite Foster trying everything he could think of to evade our officers, he was located the very same day and swiftly arrested.
“This should serve as a reminder that we will do everything in our power to bring people to justice. If you commit a crime on Cheshire’s roads there really is nowhere to hide.”
