A CARLISLE man has been given a suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for three years after failing to stop for police vehicles chasing him.

Jason Riley, 39, of Hadrian’s Park, Carlisle, appeared at court on three counts: driving a motor vehicle dangerously, two of driving with a proportion of a controlled drug above the specified limit; and driving without third party insurance.

Riley was seen at about 11.20pm last May 27 travelling in excess of the speed limit in a van on Eastern Way, Carlisle, by officers from the Mobile Support Group.

Riley's van turned onto Durranhill Road where officers activated blue lights and sirens to stop the vehicle but it kept going.

It proceeded to speed off at up to 60mph along Durranhill Road back towards Warwick Road.

Riley eventually lost control of the Ford Transit as he turned back onto Warwick Road.

The pursuit came to a stop when he crashed his van into a lamppost.

Officers quickly arrested him for driving a motor vehicle dangerously, failing to stop for police, having no insurance, and driving a motor vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit of cocaine.

Riley received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and put under a three-month curfew, with 56 hours unpaid work and 16 days of rehabilitation.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

PC Patterson said of the high-speed pursuit: “Riley was lucky that no one was seriously injured following his dangerous driving after failing to stop for officers.

“He drove at high speeds in a 30mph zone and on the wrong side of the road, putting other road users at risk.”

National statistics show that yearly recorded speeding offences have increased over the last 10 years from 126,693 in 2007 to 176,441 in 2017. Other offences that have risen in number are failing to supply the identity of a driver when required – which has grown from 24,250 in 2007 to 88,643 offences in 2017; a 265.54% increase.

PC Patterson went on to caution other drivers: “I hope this acts as a warning to others that you will be put before the courts and could face a prison sentence and be disqualified from driving.”