An Audi driver who reached 165mph during a high-speed police chase has been spared jail. Luke Plumley, 27, from Huyton, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday to 10 months in prison, suspended for one year, and disqualified from driving for two years.
Dashcam footage shows high-speed pursuit
The court was shown dashcam footage from Cheshire Police of the incident on June 29 last year, which shows officers struggling to keep up with Plumley's Audi SQ2 on the M56 near Chester. The footage shows the police car following Plumley travelling at 150mph, while his Audi was no longer visible in the frame, Liverpool Echo reports.
Plumley reached speeds of 165mph and forced other vehicles out of his way, the court heard. The footage shows him weaving in and out of traffic, with officers at one point forced to pursue him along the hard shoulder. He was forced to slow down as traffic became heavier, which eventually allowed officers to catch up.
Judge's warning and sentencing
Judge Natalie Cuddy said: "It is only good fortune that you or someone else didn't die on that day. Had you impacted someone at that speed, it would have happened."
Daniel Travers, defending, told the court: "It is a serious offence - the driving was appalling and very fast on the hard shoulder, and thankfully no one was injured. I asked why he drove like this, and he told me that the passenger in the vehicle told him to."
Plumley, of Lansbury Road, initially denied charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving without insurance, but changed his pleas to guilty on the day of his trial. Judge Cuddy added: "It is surprising that you engaged in that driving when I read the description given by you in references. You have caring responsibilities for your partner and children with additional needs, and I need to take that into account. Any custodial sentence would be devastating for them."
As well as the suspended prison sentence and driving ban, Plumley was ordered to take an extended driving test.
