A MOTORIST’S attempt to escape from the police as he drove on narrow country roads in north Cumbria at more than 100mph ended as he lost control and crashed.

A Carlisle Crown Court judge said it was “miraculous” that 33-year-old Andrew Miller and his passenger, who was thrown form the car, were not more seriously hurt.

Miller, of Greenacres, Wigton, admitted driving dangerously on the country roads near to Abbeytown. At the time, he was also over the legal limit for the Class A drug cocaine, though he was never charged with that offence.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the facts.

The defendant borrowed his mother’s VW Golf on the evening of August 3 last year and set off from their home in Wigton. He drove away from the house at 10pm.

When his mother called him an hour later and asked where he was he did not tell her, but he did say he would not be long

Mr Rogerson said that officers in a police patrol car that was parked near to the Wheatsheaf Inn at Abbeytown were approached by a man who had got out of VW Golf which Miller had driven.

The man approached the officers and, after speaking to them, appeared to realise that they were police and left, getting back into the car.

Miller then drove away “at speed.” .

The police officers followed, seeing the VW Golf turn right into the Friar's Garth housing estate before going through a red traffic light.  “He drove through them at a speed of 70mph, in an area with a 30mph limit,” said the prosecutor.

In the minutes that followed, as the police car followed with its blue lights activated, the VW Golf went through junctions at almost 60mph and blind bends at between 70mph and 80mph.

For much of the journey, Miller had the car's lights switched off.

“The officers’ speed reached up to 108mph and even then the distance of the defendant’s car was increasing,” said Mr Rogerson. The officers lost sight of the VW Golf but found it a short time later, crashed into a ditch.

The man who was Miller’s passenger had been thrown from the back window and found unconscious, slumped against a fence. Miller was dragged from the car and given first aid. His injuries included a broken sternum and a head wound.

Doctors were so concerned about his passenger that they put him into an induced coma but remarkably he had no serious injuries. A later blood test confirmed that Miller was had more than four times the legal limit for cocaine in his system.

Above: Police dashcam footage of the pursuit. Source: Cumbria Police

The court heard that he had a previous drink driving conviction from 2015 and an offence of taking a car without consent.

Matthew Hopkins, defending, said Miller expressed shame and remorse for putting so many people – and in particular the police officers – at risk “He knows it’s fortunate that only he suffered serious injury,” said the barrister.

Mr Hopkins said that last year, Miller was in work but he then suffered a tragedy, the death of his brother. He started drinking and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

Miller had also been referred to two suicide prevention charities. A period in custody was unlikely to help his rehabilitation, added the barrister.

Judge Nicholas Barker said he accepted that Miller’s remorse was genuine but, referring to his passenger’s lucky escape, he told the defendant: “That he was only marginally injured is truly miraculous.”

The judge said the courts in Carlisle regularly see cases of dangerous of careless driving where people are killed, with accidents that involve far less speed. It was staggering that there had been not fatalities following an accident which happened during driving at speeds in excess of 100mph.

Had somebody died, said the judge, Miller could have been facing at least eight or nine years in jail.

Judge Barker said a background report confirmed a “catalogue” of events, including the death of Miller’s brother, and how the defendant had turned to alcohol.

While accepting he was fully remorseful, the judge said: “It  would be frankly extraordinary if this court was not to impose an immediate custodial sentence where a person is driving in excess of 100mph, and a passenger is ejected from the vehicle, and left propped against a barbed wire fence.”

He jailed Miller for 10 months. The judge also imposed a 35-month driving ban and Miller must pass an extended driving test before he can drive independently again.