Video footage has captured the moment a dog abandoned by his owner as he fled police on an illegal e-scooter went on to lead officers straight to where he was hiding.
Charles Foy, 41, was spotted riding an e-scooter - a vehicle that cannot be insured and is illegal to use on public roads - while two dogs ran alongside him. A Cheshire police officer noted a strong smell of cannabis coming from him and indicated for Foy to pull over.
But Foy, of Beaconsfield Road, in Runcorn, ignored this and attempted to escape officers by driving down cul-de-sacs and narrow alleyways. During the escape, though, a Labrador running beside him fell behind and was unable to keep up with Foy.
Dog Leads Police to Property
The officer then got out of the patrol car and followed the distressed animal to an address on Beaconsfield Road. At the property, which seemed to be unoccupied, the second dog that had been running with Foy appeared at a ground floor window.
Following several attempts to get the people inside to come to the door, police entered the property and carried out a search. Shortly afterward, they came across an open loft hatch and found Foy under several pieces of insulation.
Foy's Claims and Sentencing
Foy claimed he had been asleep in the loft due to the downstairs being overcrowded and that he had not been out riding the e-scooter that February night. He went on to tell officers during interviews that he was unaware police cars had sirens.
Foy appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 7, where he was sentenced to three months behind bars and banned from driving for four years and three months. He had previously been found guilty of failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance and failing to provide a drug test during a one-day trial in March this year.
Police Comment on the Case
PC Mike Smith, of Runcorn Response, said: "Whilst Foy showed no loyalty to his own dog as he attempted to make good his escape from pursuing police, the pup ultimately remained loyal and provided us with a vital lead - taking us straight to the address of his master."
"The custodial sentence and the four-plus-year road ban handed to Foy reflects the serious nature of the offences he committed. Not only did he appear to be riding under the influence of substances that could severely impair his reaction times, but the fact of the matter is that he was riding an illegal vehicle that can reach considerable speeds in a matter of seconds and can have devastating effects should a collision occur."
"Vehicles like e-scooters and e-bike cannot be ridden on public roads due to the fact that they cannot be insured. In these cases, they may actually be classed as a motor vehicle, meaning the rider would need a licence, insurance and a helmet - something many riders like Foy do not possess."
