Wigan motorist is jailed after police chase ends in crash

A Wigan motorist who tried to give police the slip but crashed after he was spotted driving on false plates has been jailed.
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Ryan Charlton was this week beginning a seven-month prison term, having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in Norley as well has doing so without a licence or insurance.

Bolton Crown Court heard that on May 16 last year a police patrol spotted a black Vauxhall Astra that was recognised from an incident earlier that same day.

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The officers put on their flashing blue lights to get the motorist to pull over on Laithwaite Road, but instead the vehicle accelerated away, reaching speeds of 50mph on Broom Road, Norley.

A Vauxhall Astra similar to Charlton’sA Vauxhall Astra similar to Charlton’s
A Vauxhall Astra similar to Charlton’s

With police giving chase, the car then caused damage by crashing into the front end of a Volkswagen but still continued on its way.

The Astra was followed onto Ormskirk Road and then Alker Street in Newtown where the occupant finally abandoned it after a four-minute pursuit.

However, Charlton was arrested a short time later. The number plates were found to be from a black Astra but not Charlton’s.

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The court was told that the 36-year-old of Albert Street, Newtown, offered no explanation concerning the registration plates nor his reason for fleeing.

As well as his prison term, Charlton was disqualified from driving for a total of 29 months after which he will have to take an extended driving test in order to re-qualify for legal road use.

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