A driver who led police on a dangerous pursuit around Swindon while on licence has pleaded guilty.

Jake Bird, 26, of Portmore Close, Sparcells, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on November 29 via video link from HMP Bullingdon and pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and dangerous driving.

The court heard from Ms Winters, prosecuting, that the offence took place on October 27 when officers were made aware of a stolen vehicle and saw Bird pull into a petrol station.

They witnessed him drive back out at speed and tried to pull him over, but he failed to stop and one of the officers, who was part of the tactical pursuit unit, followed him with lights and sirens on.

Read More: Act of jealous revenge sees man 'chased with golf club' down street

Bird drove in an “extremely dangerous manner” driving to the right-hand side of a kept left into the opposite lane, joining roundabouts in the incorrect lane and driving down the centre of the carriageway through red lights, forcing other cars to swerve out of his way.

Officers saw Bird travelling at 80-83 miles per hour in the Tewkesbury Way area and they reached 72 miles per hour trying to keep up with him on Great Western Way, which has a speed limit of 50 miles per hour.

The pursuit continued onto Mead Way, reaching speeds of 83 miles per hour, but officers lost sight of the vehicle due to his dangerous manoeuvring.

Read More: Man admits controlling his ex by 'continuously checking her phone'

Another team later saw the vehicle in a Toyota dealership car park and CCTV showed him exiting the car with a female passenger, who confirmed he was the driver.

Bird was released on licence at the time of the offence and called his probation officer to explain he had borrowed the car, driven it for the previous four days with no licence or insurance and when the police tried to get him to pull over, he said he panicked and drove off.

Two days after the incident, Wiltshire Police launched an appeal to locate Bird.

The Magistrate told Bird: “This was a very serious dangerous driving offence which went on for a long period of time at excessive speeds.

“You completely ignored the rules of the road.

“It was just lucky nobody was injured.”

His next hearing will be on December 13 at Swindon Magistrates Court pending a pre-sentencing report and he is disqualified from driving in the interim.

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber, you will get:            

  • Unlimited access to the Swindon Advertiser website        
  • Advert-light access             
  • Reader rewards             
  • Full access to our app