Driver jailed for leading police on 105mph chase through Colchester (From Essex County Standard)

Driver jailed for leading police on 105mph chase through Colchester

2:13pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News

A DRIVER who hit speeds of up to 105mph in a bid to evade police has been jailed.

Ben Turner, 23, led police on a 20-minute, high-speed chase around Colchester town centre.

He raced off when he thought cops were going to collar him for drink-driving - only to find out later he was well below the limit.

He drove his BMW through two sets of red lights, speeding through residential streets at 70mph, and almost smashed into a taxi driver.

The chase ended when Turner, of Acorn Avenue, Halstead, abandoned his car on the A120 at Marks Tey.

Officers found him hiding in a bush.

Turner, a mechanic, admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop for police when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday*thurs* and was jailed for ten months.

Judge Stuart Bridge said: "It was a miracle no-one was injured during this prolonged period of dangerous driving, which included routine disregard for the speed limit.

"Short of causing serious injury to other road users, this is as bad a case I have come across.
“I have no choice but to impose an immediate custodial sentence."

Cops first spotted Turner’s car at the roundabout at the top of Balkerne Hill on November 18 last year at 1.50am.

As Turner turned into Maldon Road he was speeding and officers pursued him.

They noted Turner was driving at 60mph in Butt Road, twice the speed limit, and was not stopping at junctions.

Samantha Lowther, prosecuting, said the chase continued along Drury Road and Layer Road, where temporary traffic lights were red, into Shrub End Road.

Turner continued into Abberton Road, where he hit speeds of 105mph, before a police helicopter and stinger units were called in to assist.

The chase continued into Layer De La Haye and then Stanway where Turner joined the A12.

He exited soon at Marks Tey and drove along the A120 until he ditched his car and tried to hide in a bush.

He was caught by police at 2.10am.

Mrs Lowther said when Turner was questioned by police he said he panicked because he thought he could be over the drink drive limit having drunk a glass of rum and coke at a friend's house before the chase began.

David Howell, mitigating, said Turner was well under the legal limit when tested.