A DANGEROUS driver who jumped into the Mersey in a bid to escape police after a 120mph car chase has been jailed.

Jordan Murrell led officers through the streets of Warrington at high speed before eventually crashing after travelling from Lymm to Widnes in less than 15 minutes.

Chester Crown Court heard how the 22-year-old labourer, from Partington, was spotted speeding along Warburton Bridge Road in a silver BMW in the early hours of Monday, April 8.

Murrell, who did not have a licence at the time, was driving alongside his girlfriend as the car reached speeds of 80mph along a 30mph stretch of road.

Officers followed in what would be a 13-minute chase, with the defendant swerving to block the pursuing vehicles from overtaking him.

He proceeded through a red light without looking in order to turn onto Manchester Road, where he accelerated to speeds of up to 120mph.

Continuing towards the town centre, he drove through a stinger set up by police close to Cockhedge roundabout.

Murrell started to lose control of the vehicle on Watkinson Way due to his tyres deflating and disintegrating, before eventually crashing into a barrier at Widnes Loops.

He then exited the vehicle, leaving his girlfriend in the passenger seat, and jumped into the Mersey near to the Mersey Gateway Bridge as officers chased after him.

After swimming to Spike Island, Murrell was eventually found by police dogs in the woods in a ‘groggy’ state and with cuts to his hands.

In a police interview, he told officers he had ‘panicked’ when patrol cars had started to follow him and that his actions had been ‘stupid’.

Defence barrister Alistair Reid told the court: “Very little can be said about the driving, which reached speeds beyond comprehension.

“He is deeply regretful, remorseful and sorry for his decision to drive and understands that people could have been killed as a consequence.”

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Murrell was sentenced to 10 months in prison and disqualified from driving for three years and five months.

Sentencing, judge Patrick Thompson said: “Driving at 100mph poses a serious risk to the public, and if anyone else had been on the road at the time they would be dead.

“As well as putting the lives of your girlfriend and the pursuing officers at risk, you showed your true colours in a determined attempt to evade capture.

“There has to be a deterrent and the public needs to be protected against dangerous drivers.”