Man ‘caught red-handed’ after 70mph police chase

Harry Taberner ran red lights, mounted kerbs and crashed into other drivers as he sped through the streets at 70mph

20:16, 26 Jul 2024

Harry Taberner, of Chichester Street, Chester(Image: Facebook)

A rogue driver in a dodgy van led police on a high speed chase through Liverpool during a school run. Harry Taberner, 31, ran red lights, mounted kerbs and crashed into other drivers as he sped through the streets at 70mph.

The chase began at around 8.45am on January 5, 2023, when Merseyside police were made aware of a white Ford Transit van with cloned number plates travelling along Queens Drive in Clubmoor. The van came to a stop at the junction of Muirhead Avenue, where three police vehicles closed in and attempted to trap it in place. But Taberner drove off, running a red traffic light and crashing into one of the marked police cars.

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He sped along Three Butt Lane and crashed into the rear of a stationary private hire vehicle, which had been waiting to pick up a child for the school run. He then mounted the kerb in his van and drove up a grass verge before swerving back onto the road.

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Taberner, of Chichester Street, Chester, continued to drive dangerously for six minutes, reaching speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone. At Liverpool Crown Court today, July 26, prosecutor Olivia Belle said: "The defendant failed to stop at red traffic lights and failed to give way at junctions.

"This pursuit came to an end, at the junction of Liverpool Road and Bluebell Lane, when the defendant drove through red traffic lights and collided with another vehicle. The driver of this vehicle had to hit on his breaks in an attempt to avoid the defendant, but was hit by the defendant’s van."

The driver of the car, Kevin Woods, was as taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment. Ms Belle added: "The defendant has then attempted to climb out of the driver’s window before falling headfirst out the window. He was then detained and arrested. A second male was also found in the passenger seat."

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Paul Wood, defending, said: "This is a serious case of dangerous driving. The only observation I make is it's fortunate the damage wasn't more serious. The damage appears to be relatively minor.

"The main mitigation is his guilty plea. He showed remorse during his pre-sentence report. I ask the court to take into account the delay. The defendant was caught red-handed. Why on earth he wasn't charged sooner, I know not."

He said Taberner lived "an isolated existence with very little family support". He said: "The defendant had a very difficult childhood brought up in care, witnessed trauma as a child. He suffers with dyslexia and has very basic reading and wiring skills. He has a good work history." He added that, though Taberner had 12 previous convictions for 21 offences, "this is the first conviction that he's had in respect of poor driving."

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The judge, Mr Recorder Andrew Vinson, said: "It seems to be that the awful sequence of events falls at the top end of dangerous driving, and it's only by sheer good luck that no one was injured or worse." He sentenced Taberner to 14 months, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 30 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He also disqualified him from driving for two years.

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