A man admitted he 'had a spliff' before crashing a stolen car in a speeding police chase.
Scott Buckley, 29, was driving a Mitsubishi, which was reported stolen 16 days prior, when police spotted the number plate had been altered with black tape.
Officers then attempted to stop the car with their emergency lights as Buckley drove it along Stamford Road, Newton-le-Willows.
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He refused to stop and a lengthy police chase began as he sped through St Helens exceeding the 30 mph speed limit, at times reaching 70 mph.
Phil Astbury, prosecuting, said that at red traffic lights on Chancery Lane, Buckley pulled out from a line of stationary traffic onto the wrong side of the road forcing on-coming vehicles to take evasive action.
Buckley continued along Newton Road making “a wild, late and exaggerated turn” and he was seen fighting to control the car.
He went straight over a mini roundabout on Waring Road without slowing and at red traffic lights on Crow Lane West he again went onto the wrong side of the road forcing traffic to make evasive manoeuvres.
Buckley sped along Victoria Road at 70 mph despite it being very narrow with a blind bend and after travelling along other roads he made a sudden right turn into Gooch Drive.
Mr Astbury said Buckley had “left it too late and lost control with the car swerving from side to side before mounting the kerb and colliding with a green utility box and a tree".
He said: “He jumped from the driver’s seat and attempted to escape but was detained after a short chase and a struggle. A saliva sample tested positive for cannabis and he admitted, ‘Yes, I had a spliff’."
Police found a screwdriver poking out of the ignition of the car
Buckley, 29, of Oak Avenue, Newton-le-Willows, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.
A judge told the 29-year-old: “It was truly an appalling piece of driving. You did all of that in a stolen car.”
Recorder Jon Close said: “It is difficult to over-estimate just how dangerous your actions were. It is only through good grace someone wasn’t injured.”
But he suspended a prison sentence on him after accepting there had been “an inexplicable delay” in the court proceedings and Buckley has not re-offended.
Peter White, defending, said: “It’s sheer good luck that someone wasn’t seriously injured or killed, him or someone else.”
He conceded it had been dangerous driving over “a fair distance” and said that Buckley “knows over the last few years his life lacked motivation or direction.”
He was an unemployed labourer but had job offers pending on the outcome of the court proceedings. His relationship had broken up and he was living with his parents.
Mr White said: "He knows if he wants to make something of his life this is the moment to do it."
He pointed out that the delay in proceedings was not the fault of Mr Buckley but he was realistic and had brought his bag with him to court.
Recorder Close imposed a 14 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months. He ordered him to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and 25 days rehabilitation activities.
The judge also imposed a two month curfew between 9pm-7am and banned him from driving for two years.
He told him: "You are very lucky. If you breach the orders you won’t be lucky again."
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