Dangerous driver jailed after police chase on M6 in Cheshire
Thurlus Smith was locked up earlier this week for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs[1] worth hundreds of thousands of pounds into HM Prison Risley.
But the 34-year-old was also sentenced at the same hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday for a charge of dangerous driving.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, informed those present at the hearing that the offence occurred between October 16 and 17.
At around 11.40pm on the former, officers in an unmarked police car noticed the defendant’s vehicle driving ‘in convoy’ with another vehicle, which was using cloned registration plates.
This was on the M6 southbound at junction 20 for the M56 at Lymm, near to Lymm services.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle on cloned plates, with Smith driving off at speed. A pursuit was authorised and officers gave chase down the motorway heading southbound.
Smith came off at junction 19 for Tabley and started heading towards Northwich, while the prolonged chase also took them through Middlewich and as far as Crewe town centre.
The defendant was reported to be doing ‘circuits’ of Crewe, reaching speeds of 60mph – double the speed limit – in the built-up area.
“There was blatant disregard for the safety of other road users. The driving was far, far below that of a careful and competent driver,” Mr Riding said.
The court heard how the defendant was rarely below the speed limit of any road he was on, which included dark country roads as well as built-up areas.
Thurlus Smith was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court
He was ‘never driving carefully and paying attention’, shown in the fact that he contravened red traffic lights and give way markings.
He also drove on the other side of the road with no room for oncoming vehicles on blind bends, showing no concern for others and posing a danger on the roads.
It was said during the hearing that Smith was frequently braking harshly and trying to ram police by quickly putting the vehicle into reverse, with the defendant hitting a chasing police car three times.
Mr Riding revealed that Smith has 15 previous convictions for 28 offences, dating between 2010 and 2023.
In mitigation, Hugh McKee, defending, referenced his client’s guilty pleas which avoided lengthy trials.
He also spoke of how there is ‘another side’ to Smith, who ‘knows he faces an immediate custodial sentence’.
Before sentencing, judge David Swinnerton said: “The dangerous driving was very prolonged bad driving for between 25 and 45 minutes.
“It was extremely dangerous and reckless as to the lives of anyone – pedestrian or driver – coming the other way, particularly on residential streets.
“There is a reason the courts take dangerous driving seriously, as good people minding their own business get killed by people driving as you did.”
Smith, of Waldrons Lane in Crewe, was sentenced to seven years and one month in prison.
He was also disqualified from driving for 63 months, and he must pass an extended retest after this period elapses before getting behind the wheel again.
References
- ^ locked up earlier this week for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs (www.warringtonguardian.co.uk)