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06
Feb
Drunk driver who led police on 100mph pursuit towards Ripon jailed
A man who drove at over 100mph during a police pursuit towards Ripon has been jailed.
Connor Richard Lacey Ham, 31, was sentenced at York Crown Court today (February 6) after being convicted of drink-driving and dangerous driving.
North Yorkshire Police said TC Michael Mcvay was patrolling roads around Kiklington-cum-Upsland in the early hours of Sunday, December 21, last year.
He attempted to stop Ham on a country lane in the area, but the defendant sped away.
Ham reached speeds in excess of 80mph as he headed towards Baldersby, which initiated a police pursuit.
As Ham travelled towards Ripon, he drove at over 100mph and veered into the opposite carriageway.
Police added Ham, of Nattrass Walk in Bedale, then drove around the Hutton Bank roundabout in Ripon, before heading back along the A61 towards the A1(M).
TC Mcvay continued to pursue Ham and officers deployed a stinger to stop him, but he continued to drive.
You can find a video of the pursuit and stinger operation below.
Today’s statement said:
A stinger device was set up and used to puncture the tyres on the Mercedes but despite this Ham continued to drive. He eventually was forced to stop when he collided with a police vehicle which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
[Ham's] Mercedes was boxed in on the roundabout at Junction 50 of the A1(M) which is when Ham was finally detained by officers. He was arrested for failing to provide, dangerous driving and failing to stop for the police.
In custody, Ham gave a reading of 76 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
He was later charged with drink-driving and dangerous driving.
Ham was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.
Following sentence, TC Mcvay said:
Day in day out people drive whilst intoxicated, it’s not only dangerous but truly selfish.
Ham drove dangerously at speed whilst over the drink drive limit with no regard for the safety of other road users This reckless behaviour could have harmed innocent motorists causing long lasting trauma across our communities.
The defendant is very lucky that no one was seriously injured due to his dangerous driving in the early hours of that morning. There is simply no excuse for dangerous driving and we will continue to be relentless in our approach to intercepting those who puts the lives of other motorists in danger.
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