Astonishing moment pair TEXT and refuel at 90mph after abusing police helicopter chasing them

Jack Fagan and Connor Mitchell have been jailed

17:52, 11 Apr 2025Updated 18:43, 11 Apr 2025

It began with a nasty road rage ruck. Motorcycle rider Jack Fagan and his pillion passenger, Connor Mitchell, threatened a woman with a knife and smashed a window of her car.

The pair then sped off, leading police on a 90 minute chase[1]. The pursuit was captured on film, with footage taken from a helicopter which was scrambled to join armed officers and specialist road cops in tracking the duo.

In astonishing footage the two, dressed in black, from head to foot, including crash helmets, reach speeds of up to 90mph as they try to shake off police through three counties.

It started with the incident in Deansgate[2], Ellesmere Port, on an afternoon in July last year when they blocked the road with their motorcycle and made threats to the woman.

They then made their attempt to flee, where at one point they stop to buy petrol at a BP garage and Fagan makes crude hand gestures to police in the helicopter hovering above.

They then pull under a railway bridge outside Frodsham and are seen to be refuelling the motorcycle while moving, pouring in petrol from a green can.

During the chase, while riding at high speed, both Fagan and Mitchell are then seen to be texting on their mobile phones.

In another clip they are seen speeding up the M56 the wrong way and exiting on a slip road riding against the route of on-coming traffic. Police are waiting for them at the end of the slip road with a stinger device laid on the road. But they see it and make a U-turn to head back onto the motorway.

Weaving through traffic in a village, they have two near misses when they nearly hit a white Transit van, and another van pulling a trailer.

The pursuit lasted for almost 90 minutes and travelled from Ellesmere Port into Merseyside, across to Chester, then on to Frodsham, crossed into North Wales, then back into Chester.

In Chester, the pair rode on pavements to get passed heavy city centre traffic.

A stinger tactic was deployed in Grovensor Street, Chester, and another in Nicholas Street, near to Watergate Street, which led to Fagan and Mitchell falling from the bike.

In dramatic footage, officers chase the pair on foot and Fagan throws off his helmet before being brought down by an officer. Mitchell fled across several streets but was also felled by an officer.

The pair discarded a bag during the pursuit which was later recovered and found to contain class A drugs.

'This was incredibly dangerous'

Fagan and Connor Mitchell appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 10 April, both charged with multiple offences.

Fagan, 29, of Exeter Road, Ellesmere Port, was sentenced to four years and eight months. He pleaded guilty to section 47 assault, possession of a knife, criminal damage, possession with intent to supply class A drugs - cocaine, handling stolen goods, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

He is also disqualified from driving for five years and 28 months.

Mitchell, 29, of Farmdale Drive, Elton, Chester, was sentenced to three years and six months. He pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and possession with intent to supply class A drugs - cocaine.

During interview, Fagan punched and headbutted a wall, causing two holes, and was further arrested for criminal damage.

The assault charge Fagan was sentenced for also related to an incident on 14 July 2024. A man had been in Eton Road, Ellesmere Port, when two men on a motorcycle approached him.

They made threats, before Fagan assaulted him.

Detective Constable Demi Brownrigg, said: "I welcome the sentences handed to Fagan and Mitchell who clearly showed no regard for the safety of members of the public by leading police on an incredibly dangerous pursuit.

"The pursuit crossed into three separate police force areas, however, thanks to our officers working together, we were able to keep up with the suspects and eventually bring their alarming behaviour to an end.

This included bringing them to court for class A drugs offences.

"This should serve as an example that if you commit crime in Cheshire, we will find you, and we will utilise all of the resources at our disposal to protect the communities that we serve while bringing you to justice."

References

1. ^ leading police on a 90 minute chase (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ Deansgate (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)