Dangerous driver sentenced after 140mph police chase
Michael Shorter led officers through Worthing, Shoreham and Washington for over an hour and a half
Last updated 25th Jan 2022
A driver who told police he felt the "need for speed" when he drove off from officers at 140mph through Worthing, Shoreham and Washington has been sentenced.
Michael Shorter, 33, led officers on a 10-mile chase in a BMW on November the 27th last year.
Officers from the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) were eventually able to stop Shorter, of The Glen, Salvington, and he was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and resisting arrest.
Shorter told officers he panicked about already having nine points on his licence.
At Hove Crown Court, Judge Roger Chapple sentenced Shorter to a six-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified him from driving for two years.
He was also ordered to pay ÂŁ425 court costs and a ÂŁ128 surcharge.
RPU officer PC Tom Bezants, investigating, said Shorter’s driving was “dangerous” and said: “It is only down to luck that nobody was killed by his lack of regard for the safety of himself, his passenger or other road users.
“The safe resolution of this incident involved officers from both the Roads Policing Unit and Tactical Firearms Unit, who worked together showing professionalism to safely bring Shorter to a stop.
“Excess speed is one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads, and we are determined to stop drivers who put themselves and everyone else at risk.
“This case shows dangerous motorists that they too could lose their licence and their vehicle, and demonstrates our determination to catch offenders to ensure our roads are safe.”