Jack Smith, a resident of Penketh, found himself in a dangerous situation after evading police officers twice while intoxicated, endangering pedestrians in the process. The reckless driver, who was well over the drug driving limit, displayed a blatant disregard for the safety of others as he sped through red lights and nearly hit pedestrians in Liverpool city centre.
Smith’s dangerous escapade began at 1:15 am on February 17 when police officers attempted to pull him over in Liverpool city centre. Instead of complying with their orders to stop, Smith refused to turn off the engine of his Audi and drove off down David Lewis Street, narrowly avoiding a collision with pedestrians in the area. Despite the police’s efforts to halt him, Smith was undeterred and continued his reckless driving spree.
As the pursuit continued, Smith was sighted again at junction five of the M62 heading towards Manchester. However, his attempt to evade the authorities was short-lived as the car was registered to his Warrington home, prompting police officers to gather at junction eight for Burtonwood in anticipation of his arrival. Despite the increased police presence, Smith managed to slip through their grasp and proceeded to drive dangerously through residential areas.
Smith’s erratic behavior escalated when he was followed along Ladywood Road in Old Hall and requested to stop by trained officers who had placed a box ring around his vehicle. Ignoring their commands, Smith once again accelerated, mounting the pavement and putting pedestrians at risk as he sped away. His reckless maneuvers included driving through red traffic lights at 40mph, taking roundabouts at incredibly high speeds, and undertaking other vehicles at dangerous velocities.
Smith’s dangerous driving reached a peak when he turned into Sankey Way, going through more red lights at twice the speed limit and overtaking a black cab at 50mph. As he entered Liverpool Road at a staggering 70mph, the situation became increasingly perilous for everyone on the road. Witnesses described Smith’s Audi as “screaming around the corner,” emitting a strong smell of heat and rubber from the engine, as he narrowly avoided colliding with a taxi picking up passengers.
Despite the close calls and the damage caused to the taxi driver’s vehicle, Smith continued his reckless escapade at 60mph, disregarding yet another red light in William Patton Street before turning into Knutsford Road on the wrong side of the road, endangering oncoming traffic. Struggling to maintain control of the speeding vehicle, he turned into St Mary Street in a desperate attempt to flee from the pursuing officers. However, his efforts were in vain as he was eventually detained and refused to undergo a breath test.
Upon further examination at Wirral Custody Suite, it was revealed that Smith had 54 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, along with evidence of cocaine and cocaine derivatives in his system. A bag of cocaine was also found on his person, further highlighting his reckless behavior and disregard for the law. Smith’s actions not only endangered the lives of pedestrians and other motorists but also put his female passenger at risk during the harrowing incident.
The taxi driver whose vehicle was damaged in the encounter described Smith as a selfish driver whose actions had negative consequences for others. In addition to the physical damage caused to the taxi, the driver also suffered financial losses as he had to take his vehicle off the road for repairs. Smith’s behavior was deemed dangerous and irresponsible by the court, leading to a series of charges being brought against him, including dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, driving with drugs in his system, failing to stop after an accident, and possessing cocaine.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Smith had two previous convictions for four offenses, including possessing drugs, careless driving, and criminal damage. Despite his criminal history, his defense attorney, Ben Berkson, portrayed him as an honest family man who had made regrettable decisions while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Berkson emphasized that Smith’s actions were impulsive rather than premeditated, stemming from a combination of panic and intoxication.
Acknowledging his client’s struggles with alcohol, Berkson highlighted that Smith self-medicates with alcohol and recognizes that he has a drinking problem. Smith, visibly emotional, wiped away tears as his lawyer spoke of his three-year-old son, whom he sees regularly, and his role in caring for his father within their tight-knit family. These personal aspects of Smith’s life were considered during the sentencing phase, where Recorder William Beardmore ultimately decided on a suspended 16-month imprisonment term, subject to a two-year probation period.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Smith was ordered to undergo a six-month alcohol treatment program and complete 125 hours of unpaid work, along with 20 rehabilitation activity days. Furthermore, he was banned from driving for 30 months, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for rehabilitation and accountability. Despite the leniency shown in the sentencing, Smith’s actions on that fateful night serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence and the potential consequences for oneself and others on the road.