Drink driver jailed after high-speed chase

A drink driver who drove dangerously being pursued by police has been jailed.

At around 1.30pm on Sunday 28 January this year, an officer witnessed a grey Peugeot 5008 driving along New Parks Way, Leicester and requested the driver to stop with his blue lights.

The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit was authorised.                                                          

Over the next 22 minutes, the driver drove excessively at high-speed multiple times including driving at 80mph in a 40-mph speed limit area.

Colleagues from National Police Air Service (NPAS) also assisted tracking the vehicle as it continued ignoring the officers in pursuit as the driver also overtook on solid white lines approaching oncoming traffic, drove on the wrong side of the road and drove through a red light.

The pursuit ended after the car came to stop in a car park in Ullesthorpe and the driver, identified as Jason Mongan, was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop and dangerous driving.

A roadside breath test was carried out and Mongan blew 72 – more than twice over the legal limit – so he was also arrested on suspicion of drink driving. He provided evidential specimens of 57 and 61 in police custody.

He was later charged with failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving a vehicle when alcohol level was above the limit and pleaded guilty to all offences at court in August.

The 30-year-old of Mere Road, Bitteswell, Lutterworth was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Friday (15 November) to a total of 12 months in prison.

He was also disqualified from driving for 30 months and ordered to carry out an extended re-test.

PC Stephen Bates, who was the pursing officer, said: “Mongan’s actions that day could have resulted in serious injury, or even a fatality. The fact that no other road user, or Mongan himself, was injured that afternoon was very fortunate.

“Thankfully his driving was captured on dash camera and the NPAS camera, which provided crucial evidence in court, and I am relieved that he has accepted responsibility for his actions that day.”