Teen led police on 100mph A55 chase before narrowly avoiding head-on crash

A teenager led police on a 100mph chase along the A55 before nearly crashing head-on with a police car. Shane Leech drove well over the speed limit on the A55[1] and went through two red lights in one town before the near miss. Leech, of Bro Brwynog, Treuddyn, Mold, had only turned 18 eight days before the incident and did not have a licence or insurance.

He admitted dangerous driving but a judge today heard he could be rehabilitated. He gave him a 12-month term in a young offenders' institution, suspended for 18 months. Mold[2] Crown Court[3] heard how police had spotted the defendant's Ford Fiesta being driven at speed in Northop in Flintshire[4] around midnight on October 20.

Prosecutor Karl Scholz said an officer in a patrol car indicated he should stop.

But he went onto the A55 driving at speeds of 90mph to 100mph at times. As police followed him, he left and drove to Dobbs Hill, flicking his lights on and off in a "bizarre fashion", said Mr Scholz. Then Leech drove through the village of Drury at 50mph to 60mph, going through a temporary traffic light which was on red, and another traffic light on red in Buckley[7].

He also drove over a speed bump damaging his car, clipped another vehicle and almost collided head on with a police car in Bistre Avenue, Buckley. He did stop and appeared to be asleep at the wheel. But Mr Scholz said Leech was "awakened, if that's the right word" and tested positive for cocaine.

After a search police found a small parcel of cocaine and took him to Llay police station. Amy Edwards, defending, said her client is remorseful. He had been housed in a Travelodge and felt isolated from his friends in Mold.

So he bought a car and drove back and forth when he wanted to see them. His uncle with whom he was close had died in 2020 and he had taken steps to come off cocaine and could be rehabilitated, she added. The court heard Leech admitted driving with no insurance and failing to provide a specimen.

The judge imposed the suspended sentence and ordered Leech to do 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 35 sessions of a rehabilitation programme. He was disqualified from driving for a total of three years and must take an extended test. He also has to pay GBP400 towards prosecution costs and a GBP187 statutory surcharge.

The cocaine will be forfeited and destroyed.

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References

1. ^ A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
2. ^ Mold (www.dailypost.co.uk)
3. ^ Court (www.dailypost.co.uk)
4. ^ Flintshire (www.dailypost.co.uk)
5. ^ Overcrowded HMP Berwyn has 'trashed' cells and drug issues, MP claims (www.dailypost.co.uk)
6. ^ Driver gives police incriminating footage after crashing into woman's car (www.dailypost.co.uk)
7. ^ Buckley (www.dailypost.co.uk)
8. ^ WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone (www.dailypost.co.uk)