Ferryhill motorcyclist ignored police siren on A167

Bradley Dagga, now 25, ignored a police vehicle’s blue lights and siren as he rode a Keeway TX125 machine on the A167 near to Rushyford and Chilton, in County Durham, shortly after 11pm on December 31, last year.

The defendant, who was seen wearing dark clothing with a hood up, but without a helmet, ignored a red light at the A167 Durham Road junction and headed onto Rushyford roundabout at almost 60 miles per hour, having to put a foot on the ground to prevent him falling off the motorcycle.

Elisha Marsay, prosecuting, said at one stage Dagga rode down a footpath, then, on Middridge Road, was looking back at the police officer as he overtook members of the public.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Dagga also went the wrong way around a roundabout and almost collided with a kerb, but he then jumped off the bike and crawled into a hedge.

He was seen standing up, before running into some flats, and he was located in a nearby building, cautioned and arrested.

Checks revealed he had not completed his compulsory basic training for motorbikes and had no insurance.

He told police he had some cannabis and gave a positive drug swipe, while also providing a positive reading in a further test at a police station.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Miss Marsay said other than confirming the cannabis belonged to him and was for personal use only, he gave no comment to police questions.

She said the pursuit lasted a little more than five minutes and featured, “highly dangerous manoeuvres”, including going the wrong way around a roundabout, on pavements and at excessive speeds.

The defendant, of Thirlmere Road, Ferryhill, admitted dangerous driving, while over the drug limit, possessing a class B drug and riding while uninsured and not in accordance with the licence.

Miss Marsay said of relevance, the defendant’s record includes two further driving convictions, one for failing to provide a specimen for police, for which he received a driving ban in May.

Charlie Thompson, in mitigation, said those offences post-dated the incident for which the defendant was before the court now.

Judge Peter Armstrong told Mr Thompson that having read a “helpful” psychological report and a pre-sentence probation report: “He clearly has difficulties, and I’m not going to lock him up today.”

The judge said rather than make a costs order against the defendant he would make a deprivation order for the seized motorcycle.

Judge Armstrong said attention was drawn to Dagga by the manner of his riding and the fact he was not wearing a helmet.

“Probably due to having drugs on board you decided to try to make a run for it.

“It was clearly particularly foolish on a motorbike which was not too powerful against experienced police officers.

“You were doomed to failure.

“When I first read the case I thought, straightaway, that’s 18 months, reduced to 12 months to reflect your guilty pleas.

“But, due to everything I have read about you, in well-thought-out considerations in the reports, I’ll step back from passing a custodial sentence, which was warranted.”

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He put in place a two-year community order during which the defendant must take part in 40 rehabilitation activity days and comply with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement, both overseen by the Probation Service.

Dagga was also banned from driving for 18 months and must sit an extended test to lawfully be eligible to take to the roads.

Judge Armstrong warned Dagga to keep out of trouble and particularly to keep away from any vehicle for the next two years or risk a spell in custody.