Former squaddie banned from driving after smashing into taxi after police chase

A man has been given a three year driving ban after crashing into a taxi while trying to evade the police.

Police spotted 20 year old Jamie Lockley driving through Hanley at around 4am on 30 March without his headlights on and attempted to pull him over.

However, the drug-fuelled driver attempted to escape police by driving his Ford Fiesta at speed, through a no-entry before colliding with a taxi and a concrete bench and coming to a halt in Stafford Street.

The impact of the crash resulted in the taxi passenger being taken to hospital for treatment.

Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson told the court that police had seen the defendant’s Ford Fiesta leave Tesco car park, Hanley, without any headlights on, and as a result officers decided to pull him over to talk to him.

Mr Dickinson then explained to the court that Lockley turned left and accelerated at speed and drove through a No Entry sign into a pedestrianised zone before colliding with a taxi on Stafford Street and some concrete benches which were smashed into two. 

The court was then told that the defendant proved to be more than three times the legal limit after a drug test. 

Barry White, mitigating, explained to the court that the defendant expressed remorse and accepted that he shouldn't have driven with cocaine in his system. Lockley, of Horsley Grove, Blurton, who is no longer in the armed forces, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drug driving. Stoke on Trent Live reported that he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. 

He must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 35 days and 200 hours unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £340 costs.

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