Man jailed following police pursuit in Ellesmere Port

A man has appeared in court after reaching speeds of 90mph through residential streets as he tried to evade police officers in Ellesmere Port.

Stuart Whittaker appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 10 September where he plead guilty to drug driving. 

The sentence imposed was added to the previously imposed sentence by Chester Crown Court in June this year for the same incident where he was convicted of dangerous driving and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

The 40-year-old, of Beech Grove, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, has now been sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison and disqualified from driving for a period of five years and eight months.

On Monday 13 May 2024, police in Ellesmere Port attempted to stop a Volkswagen Golf after it was reported to have previously failed to stop for officers in Merseyside. The vehicle failed to stop again and reached speeds of more than 90mph in a 30mph zone. The vehicle travelled contraflow at a roundabout at Sutton Way and due to excess speed, officers lost sight of the car.

A marker was placed on the vehicle, and it was subsequently spotted by officers on Stanney Lane two days later, at around 10.25pm on the Wednesday 15 May. The vehicle became aware of police presence and immediately turned right onto Flatt Lane, increasing in speed and failing to stop.

A pursuit was declared, with the vehicle travelling at time over 80mph through 30mph zones, running red traffic lights and travelling through junctions at high speed, before decamping near Edward Street.

Officers gave chase on foot and stopped the driver in question, who was later confirmed to be Whittaker. He was arrested and confirmed to only hold a provisional licence.

 Whittaker was also found to be drug driving, with 212 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood – the limit is 50 – plus 32 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood, over the limit which is 10.

At the sentencing hearing, the judge commended the way in which the two police officers involved in the pursuit - PC Cooling and PC Macdonald - handled the situation. The officer’s driving was described as ‘magnificent’, as was the assistance of the other officer.

PC Cooling, of the Roads and Crime Unit at Cheshire Police, said:

“Not only did Whittaker fail to stop for police officers on multiple occasions, but he also put the lives of innocent motorists and members of the public at risk.

"He reached speeds of 90mph through residential areas, ran red lights, and even went the wrong way round a roundabout, so it is a miracle that no-one was injured or even worse due to his dangerous actions.

"But his efforts to evade police were to no avail and officers from the Roads and Crime unit worked tirelessly to bring Whittaker to justice. He is now serving time behind bars, and will also have to adhere to a lengthy driving disqualification of more than five years.

"This should serve as a stark warning of the severity of disrespecting Cheshire’s roads; if you commit offences, you will be caught and held responsible.”

Pictured - Stuart Whittaker of Beech Grove, Whitby, Ellesmere Port.