Watch as man admits 'I'm an idiot' after 90mph police chase in Ellesmere Port


An Ellesmere Port man has been jailed after leading police on a 90mph chase through residential streets in the town. Stuart Whittaker, 40, told officers he was 'a ******* idiot' as he lay on the floor in handcuffs during his arrest.

He has now been jailed for drug driving, dangerous driving and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. Video released by Cheshire Police shows Whittaker's Volkswagen Golf tearing through quiet residential streets in the town.

On Monday, May 13, Cheshire Police attempted to stop the car in Ellesmere Port after it failed to stop for officers in Merseyside. Whittaker, of Beech Grove, Whitby, hit speeds of 90mph and lost police as he travelled the wrong way around a roundabout at Sutton Way.

Police again spotted the car on May 15 around 10.25pm on Stanney Lane. Whittaker immediately turned right onto Flatt Lane when he spotted police and reached speeds of 80mph in 30mph zones.

Police said Whittaker ran red lights and barrelled through junctions at high speed before ditching the car near Edward Street. Video footage shows officers chasing Whittaker on foot before he stops and gets onto the ground as an officer warns Whittaker that he has a taser.

In the video, an officer is heard to say that Whittaker "tried to get through some bollards and has failed dramatically." As he is read his rights, Whittaker says: "I know mate, I'm such a ******* idiot. I'm a ******* idiot, mate."

Whittaker was found to be drug driving, with 212 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood – the limit is 50 – plus 32 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood, over the limit which is 10.

After his arrest, it was found Whittaker only held a provisional licence. At the sentencing hearing, the judge commended the way in which the two police officers involved in the pursuit - PC Cooling and PC Macdonald - handled the situation. The officer’s driving was described as ‘magnificent’, as was the assistance of the other officer.

Whittaker appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, September 10, where he plead guilty to drug driving. The sentence imposed was added to the previously sentence imposed at Chester Crown Court in June this year for the same incident where he was convicted of dangerous driving and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Whittaker has now been sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison and disqualified from driving for a period of five years and eight months. PC Cooling, of the Roads and Crime Unit at Cheshire Police, said: “Not only did Whittaker fail to stop for police officers on multiple occasions, but he also put the lives of innocent motorists and members of the public at risk.

"He reached speeds of 90mph through residential areas, ran red lights, and even went the wrong way round a roundabout, so it is a miracle that no-one was injured or even worse due to his dangerous actions. But his efforts to evade police were to no avail and officers from the Roads and Crime unit worked tirelessly to bring Whittaker to justice.

"He is now serving time behind bars, and will also have to adhere to a lengthy driving disqualification of more than five years. This should serve as a stark warning of the severity of disrespecting Cheshire’s roads; if you commit offences, you will be caught and held responsible.”

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