Driver who failed to stop and drove on wrong side of road sentenced to 30 months

A 19-year-old man who failed to stop for police and drove a car on the wrong side of the East Lancashire Road in St Helens has today, Friday 13 September, been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

At around 9.10am on Monday 20 May this year officers from the Matrix Roads Policing Unit began following a blue Nissan Juke, with suspected cloned registration plates.

The driver failed to stop for police and the car was then driven at speed and on the wrong side of the road on the East Lancashire Road from Haydock towards St Helens.

Officers carried out a tactical stop of the vehicle at the junction with Carr Mill Road in Billinge. The driver attempted to flee and was detained by two officers.

There were no reported injuries.

Marshall Taylor, of Bank Street, Newton-le-Willows, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, no insurance, and no licence.

He was today sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Inspector Phil McManus from the Matrix Roads Policing Unit said: “The actions of this driver on that day – driving at speed and on the wrong side of the road with no regard for other motorists - could clearly have had serious or even fatal consequences.

“Thankfully our officers were able to act quickly and decisively to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“Our pursuit drivers are highly trained and experienced professionals.

“This serves as an example of the difficult decisions police officers make daily, while risking their own safety, to keep the public safe.”

Below: Video of the pursuit and tactical stop