Machete man jailed for 100mph car chase

A banned driver who led police on a car chase reaching speeds of up to 100mph, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, has been jailed.

A court heard that when officers found Benjamin Duffy’s abandoned vehicle there was a machete in it.

The 25-year-old appeared before a Bolton judge to admit to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police plus driving while disqualified and driving without a licence or insurance.

The hearing was told the pursuit began late at night in Chapel Street, Leigh when officers tried to flag down Duffy’s Ford Mondeo but he sped off. He reached 100mph and drove at times on wrong side of the road.

After 25 minutes he abandoned the car at Pennington Flash Country Park and fled on foot towards the golf course. But officers found him hiding in bushes and arrested him, while the weapon was retrieved from the vehicle.

The judge imposed an 18-month prison sentence and a further driving ban of three years and nine months.