Motorbike rider who said he 'wanted to kill himself' led police on chase through Doncaster

Ben Jones accelerated to 60mph on Wheatley Hall Road when police requested him to stop because they were concerned he was travelling "too slowly," just after midnight on August 1.

He went through a red light on Thorne Road, "without stopping or looking," said prosecutor Amy Earnshaw, but the pursuit was called off as "unsafe" when he rode through a coned-off area of roadworks.

Jones was spotted again a short while later, and narrowly missed pedestrians when he rode on the path.

The National Police helicopter tracked him as he rode straight over a roundabout on the West Road estate, before he abandoned the bike and was arrested.

"He told police he wanted to kill himself and didn't want to be here anymore," Ms Earnshaw told the court on Thursday.

Rebecca Stevens, mitigating, said Jones, of previous good character, suffers from a heart condition, and cares for his elderly grandfather.

"There was no suggestion of dangerous driving before police illuminated their lights and the pursuit began," she said.

Jones has suffered from depression since 2015 when his grandmother died and ordinarily gets support from Community Psychiatric Nurse, she said, but since the start of the Covid 19 lockdown, that contact was limited to telephone calls, and hs mental health had deteriorated.

"He panicked," Ms Stevens told the court on Thursday. "He recognises the danger he has caused. An immediate prison sentence would only exacerbate his mental health difficulties."

Jones, 25, of Queensway, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to failing to stop and dangerous driving, on September 3.

Judge Michael Slater said his behaviour was entirely out of keeping with his character.

"Fortunately no one was hurt through your dangerous driving," he said "Had they been, the outcome of this sentencing would be a lot different."

The Judge imposed a 12 month community order with up to 20 rehabilitation days. Jones was banned for 12 months and must take an extended re-test before he rides his motorbike again.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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