Banned motorcyclist led police on chase through Horwich

Michael Carolan, 29, was spotted by officers on patrol in Horwich in the early hours on August 14 this year on a Sirron motorbike.

Bolton Crown Court heard how on being seen by the officers, Carolan then drove away.

Prosecutor Olivia Brooksbank-Laing said: “The following manoeuvres were made by the defendant, driving onto fields and then driving into pedestrian areas at excess speeds.”

Ms Brooksbank-Laing told the court how Carolan drove on the wrong side of the roads before eventually turning into the police car.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

There was no significant damage to the car, but he then tried to run off on foot.

Ms Brooksbank-Laing said that he pulled “something out of his pocket”, which turned out to be a pedal and then jumped over a garden wall before eventually being arrested.

When questioned by police, Carolan, who has eight previous convictions for 15 offences, at first gave no comment but admitted he was already banned from driving.

On being shown footage he responded: “This is me, bang hit me.”

When brought before the magistrates court he admitted to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving while banned.

Hayley Bennett, defending, said that Carolan deserved credit for his guilty plea and told the court that he had “real issues with consequential thinking.”

She also said that he had never meant to use the motorbike on the road but had instead had it brought to open land.

Ms Bennett said: “He says that he panicked, there are so many other avenues he could have taken.”

She said that Carolan was “furious with himself” but that it was “not simply that he does not listen or does not care what the court says.”

Ms Bennett also said that the motorbike could not have gone faster than 55mph because of its settings.

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Judge Nicholas Clarke KC accepted that “the driving did not in fact cause an serious injury or damage” and that Carolan deserved credit for having pleaded guilty.

He sentenced Carolan, of Barlow Street, Horwich, to eight months in prison, alongside a recall jail sentence he was already serving.

Judge Clarke also banned the 29-year-old from the roads for two years and four months, which combined with his existing ban will forbid him from driving for 86 months.

He said: “The consequence for you is you are unlikely ever to be ale to legally drive because, frankly, you’re never going to be able to afford the insurance.”