Judge throws lifeline to drug-troubled dangerous driver involved in high-speed police chase

A drug-troubled dangerous driver who was involved in a high-speed police chase has been thrown a lifeline.
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Sheffield Crown Court heard today, October 13, how Karl Ellis, aged 43, of Beech Lea, Thurnscoe, Rotherham, was involved in a police pursuit after officers followed him because he had appeared to be driving a Volvo V50 fast towards them.

Ian West, prosecuting, said: “At 1.48am, on Friday, July 3, police offcers were on mobile patrol in the Mexborough area and noticed a vehicle coming towards them at speed.”

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Mr West added that police followed the vehicle to Buzzard Avenue before it reversed off a driveway and drive off sparking a police pursuit which involved Ellis driving at speeds of up to 75mph in a 30mph zone, driving on the wrong side of the road and even going over a small roundabout.

A drug-troubled dangerous driver who was involved in a police chase has been thrown a lifeline by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court.A drug-troubled dangerous driver who was involved in a police chase has been thrown a lifeline by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court.
A drug-troubled dangerous driver who was involved in a police chase has been thrown a lifeline by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court.

Ellis, who has a previous conviction for drink-driving, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and also admitted exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit after he registered 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the limit is 35 microgrammes.

Vanessa Saxton, defending, said former Royal Navy serviceman Ellis, who now works as a plasterer, had opted to be remanded in custody to break a crack-cocaine addiction.

She added: “It is regretable that the drugs crept up on him again.”

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Eliis said: “I want to apologise for my actions and I want the drug help and to start getting my life back on track.”

The defendant also told the court that he had been forced to leave the Royal Navy because he had suffered with sea-sickness.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, The Recorder of Sheffield, said: “Instead of going into an equally disciplined way of life he went off the rails and got into drugs.”

He agreed to adjourn the case before sentencing on November 3 to consider a probation report with possible recommendations to help Ellis beat his drug addiction.

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He told the defendant: “I am throwing you some form of a lifeline and I hope you are sensible to grab it with both hands and try and pull yourself away from class A drugs.”

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