Two men have been banned from driving after a drag race along the Wilmslow bypass that reached speeds in excess of 100mph. Olly Catterall, 21, and Joel Partington, 28, were spotted by an unmarked police car at a set of traffic lights in Wilmslow on April 4 this year, with members of the public filming the vehicles from the roadside.
As the lights turned green, both cars accelerated away and raced each other along Pendleton Way and onto the A34 bypass, reaching speeds exceeding 100mph. The vehicles were stopped by an officer from the Cheshire Police Roads and Crime Unit, and both drivers were spoken to about their actions and reported.
Sentences Handed Down
Catterall, of Buttermere Court, Congleton, appeared at Crewe Magistrates' Court on August 6, where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was handed a 12-month road ban, ordered to complete an extended driving test, and required to pay fines and court costs exceeding £1,700.
Partington, of Portrea Drive, Stockport, also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday (October 28) to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was also banned from driving for 18 months, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and must take an extended test before being allowed back behind the wheel.
Police Response
Police Constable Martin Hilditch, of the Roads and Crime Unit, said: "There appears to be a mentality where driver's feel it is perfectly acceptable to ignore the rules of the roads, using them as their personal racetracks whilst they play race car drivers."
"Catterall and Partington not only disregarded their own safety and the safety of other road users, but the safety of the group of pedestrians who had gathered on the side of the road to film them."
"We regularly conduct enforcement operations on our roads to prevent serious collisions that can have horrific consequences which we have seen all too often. Whilst we appreciate people's love for their cars, we will not and cannot accept the danger posed to members of the public caused by choices like those made by Catterall and Partington."
"We will continue to take appropriate action against those involved in dangerous driving and will leave no stone unturned in identifying anyone who feels they can break the law without consequence."
