Cocaine user took police on 80mph pursuit while three times drug drive limit
Jason Ramsey (Image: Facebook) A man drove at 80mph in a 30mph zone causing a nine minute police car chase while high on cocaine. Jason Ramsey, 47, of Wellesley Street, Burnley[1], reached speeds of 80mph whilst he drove his mother’s grey Fiat 500 through the streets of Burnley.
Burnley Crown Court heard that at 2.15am on Tuesday, April 11, a police pursuit began in Barden Street after Ramsey was spotted speeding by PC Beckett. Prosecutor Mark Kellet told the court Ramsey had also drove through two red lights and over speed bumps in a 20mph zone, seen in CCTV footage played at court. Samples from Ramsey found 32 micrograms of cocaine in 100ml of his blood, more than three times the legal limit of 10mcg per 100ml of blood, and when he finally stopped the car, he ran off and caused a footchase.
Ramsey, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving, and was under investigation and on bail at the time of the offence. When arrested, Ramsey said: “‘Cause I am banned from driving it is my mum’s car as well and she does not know I have taken it.” He then answered ‘no comment’ to further questioning.
In mitigation, Ashleigh Haworth told the court Ramsey is currently unemployed and still lives with his mother, as they both care for his three children. She also told the court he is still struggling with his mental health after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, for which he is on medication, after being kidnapped in 2019. Ramsey pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified, and driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug.
Sentencing Ramsey, Judge Sara Dodd said: “Any right minded person would see that CCTV footage and think it was an appalling. “Mercifully, there was no damage or injuries caused. “You have been out of trouble for many years, but considering the severity of the footage, I cannot sentence you to anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”
She sentenced Ramsey to a 14 month custodial sentence for dangerous driving and drug driving, and is disqualified from driving for three years.