Driver jailed after attempt to evade police in high speed pursuit

Dramatic footage released by the force shows the pursuit and arrest of a disqualified driver who failed to stop for police.

On the evening of Wednesday 12 April, officers became aware of a white Ford Transit van travelling through the Wigston area displaying false registration plates.

Shortly after, the van was intercepted by road policing officers in Welford Road before travelling into Wistow where it started to increase its speed and drive erratically. 

Officers activated their blue lights for the van to stop and it failed to so, therefore a police pursuit was authorised.

Over the course of approximately 25 minutes, the van was pursued by the specially trained officers and was observed being driven dangerously. This included a number of times overtaking by crossing over solid white lines into oncoming traffic.

The footage shows the car being tracked by colleagues from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) as it drove at high speed until it came to a stop in a cul-de-sac in the Thurnby Lodge area.

Their assistance from the air directed officers on the ground to the direction the men started to walk. Realising police were closing in, both men started to run and after a chase across gardens, one of the men James Ward, was arrested in an outbuilding.

The second man was also arrested nearby and released on bail. He has been since been released with no further action.

Following a police investigation, confident Ward was the driver, he was charged with:

• Driving a motor vehicle dangerously
• Using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance
• Failing to stop
• Fraudulently use a registration mark/registration document
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Failing to provide specimen
• Criminal damage
• Possessing a controlled drug of Class B – Cannabis
  
  

The 33-year-old of Ocean Road, Leicester pleaded guilty to all charges at Leicester Magistrates’ Court last month expect the failing to stop charge which was discontinued.

He was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Leicester Crown Court on Friday (12 May).  He was also disqualified from driving for six years and will be required to take an extended retest after this period.

The criminal damage related to damage caused to a fence by Ward in his attempted escape while the drugs charge related to a quantity of cannabis found when officers searched his home.

PC Sophie Hancock, who was the investigating officer, has spoken the joint efforts of all those involved in apprehending the suspects.

She said: “The joint effort of all those involved in the arrest of Ward are an excellent example of operational policing and team work at its best.

“While our road policing officers, who drive at the highest level of skill and precision, pursued the vehicle, our colleagues at NPAS used their knowledge and expertise to tracking the vehicle and with the assistance of local neighbourhood officers on the ground arrests were made.

“The assistance of NPAS was also crucial in identifying which man was driving the vehicle as they were able to observe which side of the vehicle Ward left and track him up until his arrest placing him as the driver.

“I must also mention my colleagues, PC Eliot Bates and PC Danielle Preston, whose assistance has been instrumental in getting this case to court.”

PC Hancock added: “Ward chose to drive in a dangerous and irresponsible manner, often at speeds close to 100mph, along main routes across the county and city which were full with motorists at the time. It’s extremely fortunate that he did not collide with any vehicles or anyone crossing the road.

“He has now been left with a string of driving convictions as well a period of time in prison for the sake of less than thirty minutes of reckless behaviour.”