Drink driver nearly three times the limit following police pursuit

Jack Harrison damaged the wingmirror of the police car on patrol in Ferryhill before leading PC Cobb and Sergeant Sparrow-Woods on a pursuit through Ferryhill, Bishop Middleham, Mainsforth and West Cornforth, on March 28.

 

The 34-year-old drove at more than double the speed limit, on the wrong side of the road and at one point lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa after popping a tyre and driving on a rim until he was stung by roads officers.

 

He quickly gave up the chase in the car and took to his own two feet but didn’t get very far on an unlit dirt track where he fell to the floor and was swiftly detained.

 

Harrison was arrested and taken into custody where a breath test revealed he had 102mg of alcohol in his breath – just under three times the legal limit of 35.

 

Once he sobered up, he was interviewed where he claimed he had no memory of colliding with the police car, what he’d been drinking and when asked why he didn’t stop, said: “I s*** myself”.

 

Harrison, of Ferryhill, was subsequently charged with dangerous driving, drink driving and possessing a Class B drug, which he admitted at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday (October 27).

 

He also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of drug driving during the same hearing after he was caught driving over the limit less than a week after the pursuit on April 3.

 

In total, Harrison was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and disqualified from driving for four years. He will be required to pass an extended driving test and the cannabis will be destroyed.

 

Sgt Sparrow-Woods said: “Catching some drink drivers requires perseverance and intelligence gathering; some simply crash into an unmarked police car right in front of you.

 

“Harrison was so intoxicated that it was lucky he collided with our car and not an innocent member of the public, so we were glad to remove him from the roads as soon as possible.

 

“We will continue to target those drivers who put others at risk by getting behind the wheel under the influence and put them before the courts.”