Police led on high-speed chase on Lancashire motorway
Brian Kendall, 31, was spotted by police leaving Preston and joining the M65 in a grey BMW which did not belong to him on January 21.
Kendall made repeated attempts to evade officers, even pulling onto a restricted service road and onto the hard shoulder between junction 4 and junction 5.
He then sped off from the hard shoulder, reaching a top speed of around 140mph close to junction 8.
Officers decided to deploy a stinger due to the nature of the driving but Kendall drove through this before his two front tyres started to disintegrate.
Police then manoeuvred to bring the BMW, which was also carrying three passengers, to a stop.
Kendall, of Dunbar Grove, Manchester, was convicted of driving without insurance, dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving whilst disqualified at Blackburn[1] Magistrates’ Court on September 21.
He was already disqualified from driving for a previous offence where he had rammed another vehicle.
Mitigating for Kendall at Preston Crown Court, Darren Finnigan said: “Mr Kendall says though he does suffer from anxiety which prevents him from leaving the house, he had been using alcohol to give him the courage to leave the house. That left him in a position where he had been over the limit.
“He had been using alcohol to escape the worst effects of his anxiety.
“He is incredibly remorseful for what happened. It was a stupid thing to do and it should not have happened.”
Sentencing, Recorder Charlotte Deane said: “You put lives at risk. Not only yourself, but passengers, police officers, and innocent members of the public.
“In a blink of an eye this incident could have ended in tragedy.
“I’m told you have given up alcohol since this offence.”
Recorder Deane sentenced Kendall to 14 months in prison suspended for two years. He will also have to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 150 hours of unpaid work, and be subject to an electronic curfew for 12 weeks.
Recorder Deane added: “When you will be sitting at home in the evening while others are out during the festive period, I hope you will be reflecting during that period and realise how lucky you are not to be in prison.”