A FAMILY out walking had to scoop up their children to avoid them being hit by a dangerous driver who was fleeing police.

Michael Carolan, who was banned from holding a licence, was spotted driving a Ford Focus, suspected of being on cloned plates, by police just before noon on January 15.

The car was seen turning from Chorley Old Road into Lilly Street, Bolton, and then police covertly followed it as it headed back onto the main road and towards Johnson Fold.

Bolton Crown Court heard how a pursuit began when the Focus turned into Old Kiln Lane and increased its speed to 60mph.

On Fall Birch Road a family had to pick up children as the car headed towards them and the vehicle pulled out onto Chorley New Road without stopping at the junction.

But the car began smoking and lost speed before grinding to a halt in Cedar Avenue, where driver 26-year-old Michael Carolan and a passenger, jumped out and tried to run away.

Carolan, of Barlow Street, Horwich, was caught and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst banned and without insurance.

The court heard that in July last year Carolan was fined and banned from driving for 12 months for drug driving and in August he was jailed for 34 weeks for drug deal and so was recalled to jail on licence when he committed his most recent offence.

Simon Blakebrough, defending, said Carolan has an HGV driving qualification and hopes to become a lorry driver when his licence ban ends.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh sentenced Carolan to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years and made him subject to an 8pm to 6am electronically tagged curfew for four months.

He was also banned from driving for three years after which he will have to take an extended driving test.

“This was a very bad piece of dangerous driving,” the judge told him.

“You travelled at grossly excessive speeds.”

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