Man jailed after leading officers on three dangerous pursuits across Cheshire

A man who led police on three dangerous pursuits before attempting to evade officers by swimming across the Manchester Ship Canal has been jailed.

At around 1.17am on Wednesday 6 April, officers spotted a white Volkswagen Transporter on the M6 southbound near to junction 21.

Intelligence suggested that the driver of the van, David Houghton, did not have a licence so a decision was taken to stop the vehicle.

Houghton initially pulled off the motorway onto the A57 roundabout and appeared to stop for officers. 

However, he subsequently made off at speed and led police on three dangerous pursuits across the county. 

During the pursuits Houghton drove the wrong way down the M6 on two occasions and travelled at speeds well above the 50mph speed limit. 

Despite abandoning the pursuits on two occasions due to the manner of his driving, officers continued to follow Houghton follow from a safe distance, and they caught up with him on the A50 Knutsford Road. 

Houghton continued to drive down the A50 towards Warrington at speeds of more than 50mph before turning off onto Thelwall Lane, a dead-end road. 

He then abandoned his vehicle and made off on foot, before jumping into the Manchester Ship Canal.

Houghton was kept under constant observation and arrested by officers as he arrived on the opposite side of the canal.

The 43-year-old was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen.

Houghton, of no fixed abode, Liverpool, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 5 May where he was sentenced to 16 months in prison He was also banned from driving for two years.

Following the sentencing Police Constable Phil Halliday, from the Cheshire Police Roads and Crime Unit, said: “This was among the most dangerous driving I have come across in my nine-year policing career.

“During the pursuits Houghton showed no regard for the safety of our officers or the other innocent road users, repeatedly travelling at excess speeds and even driving the wrong way down the motorway on two occasions.

“However, despite his repeated attempts to evade officers, there really was nowhere to hide and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.”

Pictured - David Houghton.