A dangerous driver who reached speeds of up to 120mph before crashing into a police car, leaving an officer with life-changing injuries, has been jailed.
Shaun Orchard, 34, of Neville Street, Hazel Grove, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on June 5 after being found guilty of aggravated vehicle taking and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for five-and-a-half years.
Police received a 999 call in the early hours of April 22 last year, reporting that a 'drunk' Orchard had taken a man's Mercedes without his consent. The Mercedes was tracked down around 20 minutes later at 3.50am and was being driven erratically.
Orchard gestured at officers from the driver's window before joining the M60, where he reached speeds of up to 120mph. He exited at junction 24 and continued to drive at around 100mph in a 30mph zone. He then drove through a red light and collided with the police vehicle, causing it to strike a nearby building, while the Mercedes crashed into a brick wall.
Police detained Orchard at the scene, and he and the injured officer were taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary. In a victim impact statement read out in court, the injured officer said: 'Orchard made deliberate choices that day. Choices that showed a complete disregard for the safety and lives of everybody else on the road. In trying to save themselves from the consequences of their own actions, they caused catastrophic consequences for me that I will carry for the rest of my life.'
The officer added: 'The defendant made abhorrently selfish decisions and those decisions have left me with life-changing physical injuries and psychological trauma that I will carry for the rest of my life. While the defendant will move on quickly from this, I will continue living with the consequences every single day for the rest of mine.'
Following the hearing, Detective Constable Adrian Beckford, from Greater Manchester Police, said: 'This was an extremely dangerous incident that could easily have had fatal consequences. During the pursuit, Orchard ignored traffic signals, failed to stop at junctions, and drove through red lights, placing members of the public at significant risk. Orchard showed a complete disregard for the safety of the public and our police officers.'
Checks later revealed that Orchard held only a provisional driving licence and was over the prescribed limit for both alcohol and drugs at the time. The officer sustained serious injuries and required a prolonged hospital stay, and it is likely these will be life-long.
