Watch police chase speedster going over 90mph near Cheltenham …

Video footage shows a dramatic car chase through Cheltenham after a driver reached 90mph trying to escape a dog handler. Kyther Pargeter, aged 33 of Surrey Avenue in Cheltenham, was caught driving while on his mobile phone by an officer on patrol and led officers on a chase when they attempted to detain him.

Dog handler PC Ben Smith was taking part in a patrol on Redmarley Road in the Battledown area of the Cheltenham when he spotted Pargeter using his phone while driving. PC Smith, formerly a Roads Policing Officer, detained Pargeter while checking his license.

Pargeter fled, getting back into his car and driving away before PC Smith could reach him, Gloucestershire Police said. He then led officers on a high-speed chase through residential streets in Cheltenham. Body camera footage shows PC Smith announcing speeds of 80 and 90mph as he chased Pargeter.

"Now entering the Southam speed limit of 50 and we are doing 80. He's overtaken a number of cars," Mr Smith can be heard saying to his radio as he continued the chase. Mr Smith said he had police dog Arnie in the backseat of the vehicle and had to be mindful of his welfare "with the speeds we were going at."

He continued: "I was also mindful that there were other members of the public around that Pargeter's driving was putting at risk."

Pargeter led PC Smith and PD Arnie through Whaddon Road, Cromwell Road, Mendip Road, Prestbury Road, Prestbury High Street, the B4632 Southam Road, B4632 Cheltenham Road towards Winchcombe and B4632 Toddington before he abandoned the vehicle in a housing estate and ran away.

Refusing to stop, PC Smith eventually has to use his taser to bring the chase to an end. He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and released on police bail, before being posted a charge for the driving offence. A Gloucestershire Police statement said at no point during the investigation was it revealed why Pargeter sped off after what was, initially, a routine stop.

On Monday, July 3, he was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and disqualified from driving for two years at Gloucester Crown Court. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, undertake a rehabilitation requirement of 20 days and pay a fine of £156.

Following the sentencing PC Smith commented on Pargeter’s actions saying: "Kyther drove recklessly while trying to evade me and it is lucky that he didn’t cause any further harm.

"We are constantly risk assessing pursuits, which can dynamically change, and considering the safety of the public is at the forefront, Police Dog Arnie was in the car with me at the time and I also needed to consider his welfare due to the speeds Pargeter was travelling at.

"Pargeter showed a complete disregard for the safety of himself, his pet dog which was in his car and more importantly members of the public."

References

1. ^{^} Driver caught using on mobile phone leads police on 90mph chase (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)