Great Harwood dad's '100mph M65 suicide bid'

9:51pm Sunday 13th April 2008

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A FATHER-of-two sparked a major police operation after threatening to take his own life by crashing at 100mph on the M65.

Former soldier Paul Foley drove the wrong way up a slip road at junction 10 Burnley to evade officers.

And, after being boxed in by three police vehicles, he rammed two of them and drove off. Foley, 36, then crashed into a sergeant's car after swerving in front of the vehicle.

Parts of the M65 were closed before Foley, of Butts Mount, Great Harwood, gave himself up at junction eight for Hapton, Huncoat and Padiham.

Burnley Crown Court was told Foley was upset over the breakdown of his marriage to Donna.

He had texted his love rival to say it would be his fault if anything happened to him.

Foley - said to have had a "wake-up call" following the incident - had earlier admitted dangerous driving.

He was given a two-year community order, with 100 hours unpaid work, banned from driving for 12 months and told to take an extended re-test.

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Woolman told Foley the offence had been a one-off when he had been in extreme distress.

He said: "In my judgement the mitigation available to you means I do not need to make it a prison sentence.

"I suspect this sort of behaviour will never be repeated."

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said Foley had been out with his estranged wife and dropped her off at the home she shared with their two sons.

After being 'pushed' out of the house following an argument, Foley told his 12-year-old son he loved him and was going to crash the car.

Miss Statham said the defendant then rang his estranged wife, indicating he was going to kill himself by crashing at 100mph with a tank full of petrol.

Foley then went to a local garage and filled up with £17 of petrol but drove off without paying.

He left a note giving his registration details and telling the assistant to call the police.

Foley, who had no previous convictions, also admitted a charge of making off without payment.

Jeffrey Samuels, defending, said Foley had served in the Gulf War and had been discharged from the army with an impeccable record.