Man jailed after driving wrong way down M62 in police chase

Harry Hosker has been jailed following a prolonged police chase in which he displayed ‘excessive dangerous driving’, even when a stinger punctured all four tyres.

Such was the 27-year-old’s will to escape the attention of police that he ditched his car on the motorway and attempted to flee on foot.

But he was eventually caught by a brave officer who exited his car in the middle of the motorway and brought the criminal to justice.

The defendant appeared to be sentenced at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday after being charged with dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, fraudulent use of a registration mark and possession of cannabis.

Alan Currums, prosecuting, explained how at around 7.50pm on Wednesday, July 20, officers on patrol in Culcheth spotted a black Volkswagen Golf on Holcroft Lane which was displaying false number plates.

They followed the car as it travelled onto Warrington Road, before a stinger was used to deflate the vehicle’s tyres as it entered the Birchwood area.

Despite having four flat tyres, the driver refused to stop for officers, so a pursuit was authorised.

Patrols followed the car as it drove the wrong way down the M62 westbound between junctions 11 for Birchwood and 10 for the M6 at Croft Interchange.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop near to junction 10 after the driver stopped in an emergency refuge bay and attempted to make off on foot into nearby fields.

He was arrested a short time later, with police discovering that he was also unlicenced, uninsured and in possession of illegal drugs.

Appearing in court, Hosker, of Glazebrook Lane in Glazebrook, pleaded guilty to all of the charges put before him.

Police trying to stop Hosker as he turns onto the M62

Magistrates took this into account, however they remarked that the offences were ‘so serious’ that only immediate custody was appropriate.

This was due to Hosker displaying ‘excessive dangerous driving for a prolonged period involving a police chase’.

He was subsequently jailed for 12 months and disqualified from driving for 54 months.

Following the sentencing PC Dave Carr, from Cheshire Police’s Roads and Crime Unit, said: “During the pursuit Hosker showed no regard for the safety of our officers or other innocent road users.

“He was travelling at high speeds while having four flat tyres, and even drove the wrong way down the motorway.

“However, despite his repeated attempts to evade officers, there really was nowhere to hide, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.”