Driver's drug reading was off-the-scale, court told

Bolton Crown Court heard how Jacob Wylie, driving an Audi A4, led officers on a 90mph pursuit through Horwich and along rural roads before heading into a dead end.

After hearing how 29-year-old Wylie has no previous convictions and has stayed out of trouble since, The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh gave him a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Holly Nelson, prosecuting, told how police became suspicious after noticing Wylie's Audi attempting to accelerate from them just after 1am on June 27 last year.

And when they activated the blue lights the car sped away at up to 80mph on Belmont Road.

The nine-minute pursuit saw the Audi career up Chorley New Road at 90mph, through red traffic lights, around the Beehive roundabout and through Horwich town centre.

Heading out into the countryside, the car turned onto Sheep House Lane, causing another driver to move out of the way.

The court heard that another police officer took up the pursuit on Lee Lane before the chase came to an end when Wylie turned down a dead end.

"The defendant stopped the vehicle and remained inside. He did not try to make off," said Miss Nelson.

The Audi, for which Wylie had no insurance, had been hired by his friend.

He tested positive for cocaine, with a metabolite reading in his blood of more than 800mg per litre.

"The analytical results were above the highest calibration standard used," said Miss Nelson.

Wylie, of Firs Lane, Leigh, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug driving and having no insurance.

Paul Wood, defending, said: "He accepts this was a prolonged piece of dangerous driving."

He added that the father-of-two has had a drug addiction and mental health problems which could best be addressed in the community with the help of the probation service.

As part of his sentence, Wylie must participate in 35 days of rehabilitation activities and he was banned from driving for four years, after which he will have to take an extended test.