'It is but for the grace of God that no one died' - Judge praises police for stopping driver after 80mph chase

A driver who sped at 80mph during a police chase didn't stop even after his tyres had been 'shredded' by a stinger, a court heard.

Aaron McNally, 31, was stopped thanks to the 'bravery, skill and determination of the police', a judge said.

McNally, 31, who was driving a stolen BMW 5 Series, was being chased by police on the afternoon of September 12 after they noticed it had false plates.

He was only stopped when officers from GMP's Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit were able to box McNally in, after he had turned onto the M61 at Kearsley Spur.

"It is but for the grace of God that no one died," Judge Anthony Cross QC told McNally.

Aaron McNally (GMP)

"Had you killed someone, you would have been guilty of murder, rather than any other offence. But you were lucky that no one was injured."

The judge paid tribute to the officers involved, saying they ought to be congratulated for their work.

"The matter came to an end because of the bravery, skill and determination of the police," Judge Cross added.

Manchester Crown Court heard that the BMW had been stolen during a burglary in Preston days before the police chase on September 12.

Officers deployed a stinger device, but McNally continued to speed away despite a number of his tyres being 'shredded'.

"This is as bad an example of dangerous driving as there can be," Judge Anthony Cross QC told McNally (MEN Media)

He reached speeds of about 80mph along Bolton Road in Salford, where the limit is 30mph.

Footage played in court showed McNally hold his hands up when officers went to arrest him following the chase, after he had turned onto the M61, heading towards its junction with the M60.

Jailing McNally for 20 months, Judge Cross told him: "This is as bad an example of dangerous driving as there can be.

"You led the police on a chase, which in my view endangered the lives of yourself, but also those innocent members of the public, who were doing no more than going about their lawful business."

Before sending him down, the judge warned McNally: "Unless you change your ways you will be looking at a lifetime of being in and out of various institutions."

"It is but for the grace of God that no one died," Judge Anthony Cross QC told McNally (Manchester Evening News)

McNally, of Parkway, Preston, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.