Man jailed for dangerous driving in Runcorn
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A man who rammed a police car in an attempt to flee from officers in Runcorn has been jailed.
Howard Rogerson, of Alkington Road, Whitchurch, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 3 October, after admitting dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, and drug driving.
The 45-year-old was handed an 18-month custodial sentence and was disqualified from driving for three years.
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On 29 October 2022, police attempted to stop a Ford Focus on the Daresbury Expressway in Runcorn. The driver, later confirmed as Rogerson, failed to stop, accelerating harshly in a bid to flee from officers. At times, Rogerson was travelling more than twice the legal speed limit.
The vehicle continued until it met a dead end and tried to complete a U-turn, ramming into the police vehicle as officers attempted to block his path.
Rogerson was subsequently arrested and was found to have 438 micrograms of amphetamine per litre of blood, almost twice the legal limit of 250 micrograms. He was also driving with an expired provisional licence after previously being disqualified from driving.
Rogerson was charged with the offences but failed to appear in court on 31 May 2023. He was circulated as wanted and, following extensive enquiries, was arrested on 15 August 2023.
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PC Nathan Holland said:
“Rogerson knew he shouldn’t have been driving; he was stopped for driving whilst disqualified exactly a month earlier and prosecuted.
“In his efforts to try and flee from officers, he put other road users and members of the public at risk, reaching high speeds more than twice the legal speed limit. He even put officers at risk by driving directly into a police vehicle.
“But his efforts were to no avail, and he is now facing time in custody for his actions.
“We take offences on the road extremely seriously. Driving is not a right; it is a privilege which demands respect and care to ensure the safety of everyone who shares the roads.
“We will continue to crack down on anyone who breaches the rules of road and I welcome the judge’s decision to impose an immediate custodial sentence.”