Man jailed for 20 months after 100mph police chase on A14 in Suffolk
Mitchell Dickenson swerved into the path of a police car as officers attempted to pull him over
A man has been jailed for 20 months for driving offences and assaulting a police officer in Suffolk.
31 year old Mitchell Dickenson, of Woodley in Berkshire, has also been banned from driving for 46 months and ordered to take an extensive retest by Ipswich Crown Court.
He was arrested on November 24 after being seen driving erratically on the A14 eastbound near Woolpit.
His vehicle was tracked down to junction 50 at Stowmarket, where it attempted to pull away as police approached.
Dickenson swerved his vehicle in an apparent attempt to hit police. He then led police on a chase, driving at speeds of up to 100mph.
He eventually crashed into a grass bank near Claydon and overturned his Land Rover.
He was found to be over the drink drive limit and was abusive towards police transporting him to Ipswich Hospital. He later kicked one of the officers in the head.
Dickenson was convicted of:
- Dangerous driving
- Driving whilst unfit through drink
- Assault on an emergency worker
- Failing to provide a preliminary drug test
Sergeant George Laflin, of Suffolk's Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “Mitchell Dickenson’s actions on the night in question were extremely reckless and dangerous and it is incredibly fortunate that nobody was seriously harmed as a result.
“The pursuing officers displayed great calm, skill and professionalism in how they went about the pursuit of Dickenson, putting themselves in harm’s way in the process, but also backing off when required so as not to increase the risk to other road users.
“Dickenson showed complete disregard to the safety of the officers and other motorists and his behaviour towards the arresting officer and also the paramedics was abhorrent, displaying a total lack of respect and common decency towards our professions.
"Assaulting and abusing emergency workers is completely unacceptable.
“I am pleased with the sentence handed down by the court which reflects the severity of his offences.
"Not only will he now spend several months in prison, the lengthy driving ban also handed out means he will be kept off our roads for the foreseeable future.”