A reckless banned driver led police on a “highly dangerous” late-night chase before leaving a policewoman with a nasty face wound just minutes after he was eventually caught. Jack Wilks hurtled over speed bumps, went onto the wrong side of the road and drove at speed through red traffic lights during the frightening pursuit, Hull Crown Court heard.
Wilks, 21, of Auchinleck Close, Kelleythorpe, near Driffield, admitted wounding the police officer. He pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial. He also admitted dangerous driving in Centenary Road, Goole, driving while disqualified, possessing Ketamine and cannabis, and having no insurance on November 25 last year.
Poppy Walker, prosecuting, said that Wilks was driving a Volvo in the Holme-on-Spalding Moor area, near Market Weighton, at about 11.36pm. Police checks revealed that he had no insurance. An unmarked police car followed him from a roundabout on the A614 at Howden, travelling towards Goole.
The police car’s flashing blue lights and sirens were activated but Wilks accelerated away. He drove dangerously at 50mph in a 30mph limit and was “unstable” over speed bumps, also driving on the wrong side of the road, through red traffic lights and over a central road island. He ended up in Russell Road, Goole, a dead end.
A passenger got out and a female police sergeant tried to stop Wilks also getting away. He forced the driver’s door against the police car and he jumped onto the bonnet of the police car.
He pushed the car door into the officer’s face, causing pain. She managed to drag him to the ground but he struck his head backwards towards her several times before he was eventually detained.
Wilks was thrashing his head backwards towards the woman and she found blood near her eye. There was a 3cm wound near her right eyebrow.
It needed 10 stitches. The sergeant said: “I could hardly see out of my eye in the days following the incident.” She had to take two weeks off work and had to cancel a holiday.
She had been left with a scar in a very prominent position. She suffered frequent headaches and there had been a lasting impact on her.
During a search, Wilks was found with a large quantity of Ketamine weighing 108g, with a street value of £2,160, as well as cannabis, valued at £225. Wilks was a banned driver and he was uninsured.
During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had a previous conviction for drug-driving in September last year, when he was banned from driving for 17 months.
“There was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road and highly dangerous manoeuvres,” said Miss Walker. The offences were committed shortly after the driving ban was imposed.
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Benjamin Donnell, mitigating, said that the wounding of the policewoman was a short-lived and “exceptionally fleeting” incident but there was a harmful impact on her. “He has not used any illicit substances since those offences,” said Mr Donnell.
“He has not committed any further offences. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the community. He is a low risk of reoffending.”
Recorder Taryn Turner told Wilks: “The police attempted to stop you and you deliberately decided not to comply. It was a prolonged and dangerous attempt to evade the police at excessive speed through a build-up area.
“Your driving created an obvious and serious risk of injury to pedestrians and other drivers. The pursuit ended only when you drove into what seems to have been a dead end.”
Wilks got out of the car and tried to escape on foot. A significant injury was caused to the police sergeant’s face and she needed hospital treatment and stitches.
“She has been badly affected by this incident,” said Recorder Turner. “She has been left with permanent facial scarring. The effects of your actions continued long after the physical wound was inflicted.”
Wilks, who had been on bail, was jailed for 19 months. He was banned from driving for three years and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
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