A man who drove 120mph on the M61 in a high-speed police chase has been jailed.
Aidan Sherlock led several officers on a ‘dangerous’ pursuit through Bolton in the early hours of December 4 last year.
The 26-year-old sped through four sets of red lights, reached speeds of up to 90mph in a 30mph zone and drove on the wrong side of the road.
The occupants of the Vauxhall Vectra threw ‘significant objects’ at officers – one believed to be a car jack – in a bid to get away.
One item struck a police car and caused damage to the window screen.
Sherlock, of Starkie Road, Bolton, appeared via video link from HMP Forest Bank at Bolton Crown Court today (January 4).
Verity Quaite, prosecuting, said officers spotted Sherlock on Deane Road in Bolton at around 3.30am.
They suspected the car was on false plates.
Police signalled for the car to stop but it failed to do so.
Sherlock led officers through the town before eventually joining the M61, reaching speeds of 120mph.
Bolton Crown Court heard how Sherlock, who has 25 previous convictions from 49 offences, turned his lights off while on the motorway.
Police had intended to use a stinger to stop the vehicle but it had not been safe to do so.
The car eventually came to a stop on Glynne Street in Farnworth due to damaged wheels.
Police found the car had not been stolen and belonged to the cousin of Sherlock’s girlfriend.
Colin Buckle, defending, said Sherlock’s only mitigating factor was that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He also noted no one was injured during the incident.
Before passing sentence, judge Timothy Stead said: “You’re 26, you have a very bad record.
“This was a three-car police vehicle pursuit case.
“(You went through) four sets of traffic lights passed red, drove 80 to 90mph in a 30 zone, turned your lights off and someone was throwing significant objects out of the window of the vehicle.
“That in its own right was a dangerous thing.”
Aidan Sherlock pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.
He was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and had his driving disqualification increased to four years and nine months.
