Doncaster driver seen 'driving eratically at McDonald's' spared from jail after two high-speed police chases

Sheffield Crown Court heard today, December 14, how Jordan Miller, aged 22, of Lower Kenyon Street, Thorne, Doncaster, sped away from police during two separate incidents in Barnsley in November, last year, and in the West Midlands, in May, this year.

Amy Earnshaw, prosecuting, said Miller had been reported as driving under the influence of drugs at a McDonald’s drive-thru, on Upper New Street, Barnsley, and when police tried to stop him he drove away at speed through traffic lights and on the wrong side of the road before he was stopped.

Judge Sarah Wright told Miller: “You were seen driving eratically at McDonald’s with a female passenger and you had fallen asleep at the wheel clearly under the influence of cannabis.

"When police officers tried to stop you, you drove off dangerously speeding and driving through red lights.”

Ms Earnshaw said Miller hit a kerb and grassed area in the Ford Galaxy, accelerated towards the Alhambra Shopping Centre roundabout at Sheffield Road, straddled both sides of the carriageway on Doncaster Road reaching speeds of 65mph and drove through a red light at 80mph before he was stopped.

The defendant told police he had borrowed the Ford Galaxy from work and had panicked when he saw the police.

While Miller was on bail on May 5 officers spotted him driving a Vauxhall Vectra on Tiled House Lane, between Pensnett, and Bromley, in the West Midlands, and he accelerated to get away from the police.

Miller overtook vehicles, exceeded the speed limit, undercut a van and left an overturned motorcycle in his wake before officers later found the Vectra abandoned and the defendant trying to run away.

Judge Wright told Miller: “This involved extremely dangerous driving. High-speeds and dangerous overtaking and a possible or near-collision with a motorcycle.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence and without insurance and to driving while under the influence of cannabis after the incident in Barnsley.

He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving under the influence of cannabis, and to possessing cannabis after the incident in the West Midlands.

Zaiban Alam, defending, said: “He’s a very young man of hitherto good character and at 27-years of age this offending is quite out of character and has its root cause in trauma.”

She added that Miller has suffered bereavements and had been left to fend for himself from the age of 13.

Ms Alam said: “He’s terrified of the prospect of going to prison and he asks your honour to give him a chance.”

Judge Sarah Wright told Miller: “You’re clearly a very immature young man and that is no doubt in no small part due to the troubled up-bringing you had.”

She sentenced Miller to five months of custody suspended for 12 months with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a three-month curfew.

Miller was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor