Driver crashed into lamppost in Warrington Road police chase

Chevon Irving caused £1,000 worth of damage through his attempts to evade arrest following a high-speed chase through Culcheth.

The 21-year-old father-of-one made off from patrolling officers after smoking cannabis in the village, travelling at more than double the speed limit in the process.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and possession of cannabis.

But he was spared jail in favour of allowing him to work with the probation service to ‘make something’ of his life.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, explained how Irving came to the attention of police around 11.15pm on March 1.

Officers saw three cars congregating on a Culcheth car park and told the occupants of first two cars to leave, which they did, but a third vehicle made off at speed before police had the chance to speak to the driver.

Officers followed Irving’s Volkswagen Golf down Warrington Road, which has a 30mph speed limit, and activated their vehicle’s blue flashing lights and siren.

The defendant was already travelling at 50mph as he passed the junction with Charnock Road, at which point he switched off all the lights on his car.

Driving in the middle of the road, straddling the white line at 70mph, he continued towards Risley before moving onto the wrong side of the road and flying over mini roundabouts and speed humps.

The chase brought them to a tight bend, when officers momentary lost sight of the vehicle.

As they turned the corner, they discovered the defendant had lost control and crashed into the wall of a house and a lamppost.

Irving flew over mini roundabouts and speed humps during the chase along Manchester Road in Culcheth (Image: Google Maps)

Irving, who was on his own in the extensively-damaged vehicle, exited and ran into the back garden of a nearby home.

When he knew he was cornered by police, he came out with his hands up and admitted to police that he had had ‘something to smoke’.

Smelling cannabis on him, drug drive procedures were carried out and officers found a small amount of cannabis in his jacket pocket.

The court heard how Irving could not face a charge of drug driving at this point, despite admitting to officers that he had ‘had something to smoke’, as drug driving as results take 4-5 months to come back.

Mr Jones also revealed that Irving had a previous conviction from 2019 for drug driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of drugs.

Before sentencing, judge Michael Blakey said: “It is most fortunate that you did not injure any other road users, as if you did, you would be heading straight to prison.

“If police tell you to stop, you must stop, and not drive off at speed as you did.

“You are still a young man, and you have to make a decision whether to follow a path of criminality, where you will be sent to prison, or make something for yourself.

“If you have any sense, you will follow the latter, and the more help from the probation service you receive, the better.”

Irving, of St Georges Road in Bury, was sentenced to an 18-month community order and told he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 40 hours unpaid work.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pass an extended driving test before getting behind the wheel again.

Judge Blakey approved an order for the cannabis to be forfeited and destroyed.