Man jailed after colliding with taxi, forklift truck and pursuing police car

A man has been jailed for dangerous driving after the stolen vehicle he was driving collided with a taxi, forklift truck and the pursuing police car in Liverpool city centre. Jamie Crawley, 19, of Springvale Close, Kirkby, was sent to a young offender's institute for 11 months at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday. He was also sentenced to a further five months as he was in breach of a community order, imposed for possession of cannabis with intent to supply in 2017.

The pursuit began at around 12.20pm when the blue Ford Fiesta, which had been stolen in a burglary on Mollington Avenue, Norris Green on 14 January, was spotted by officers. The driver made off when requested to stop by officers, driving around the city centre, onto a pavement and narrowly missing a pedestrian. It continued to be driven above the speed limits and through red lights, colliding with a taxi. It was then driven into an industrial yard on Crown Street in Toxteth where it collided with a forklift truck and a trailer. Crawley then rammed a police vehicle, with the two officers suffering whiplash. After a short foot pursuit nearby, Crawley was detained by police. He was arrested and later charged with dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 

Inspector Jon Coote said: “We will not tolerate anyone who puts the safety of members of the public at risk in the way Crawley did by driving so recklessly in the city centre. “Crawley drove at speed, on the pavement and the wrong way down a road in a failed attempt to avoid justice. In doing so, he narrowly avoided a pedestrian and the consequences of his actions could easily have been so much worse. “I want to thank the officers involved for showing the determination to ensure Crawley was apprehended, in spite of his violent efforts to stop them.” 

Image credit: Merseyside Police