Wild Police Chase Ends with Jailed Drink-Driver
A 31-year-old man has been locked up after a shocking spree of dangerous driving, drink-driving, and assaulting a police officer on the A14. Mitchell Dickenson swerved recklessly into the path of a police car while well over the drink-drive limit, sparking a high-speed chase.
Mitchell Dickenson Sentenced to 20 Months Behind Bars
Dickenson appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday 20 March. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, banned from driving for 46 months, and must pass an extended driving test before getting back behind the wheel.
The man, who lived in Woodley, near Reading, had already pleaded guilty to:
- Dangerous driving
- Driving whilst unfit through drink
- Assault on an emergency worker
- Failing to provide a preliminary drug test
Erratic Driving Spurs Intense Police Pursuit
On the night of Thursday 24 November, police were tipped off about a Land Rover Freelander driving erratically on the A14 near Woolpit. Officers found the vehicle near Stowmarket with hazards flashing, but as they tried to pull it over, the driver – Dickenson – aggressively swerved towards the marked police car, attempting to ram it.
The officers cautiously backed off to call for backup but kept up with Dickenson’s dangerous antics. The driver repeatedly swerved to force the police off the road, reaching speeds of up to 100mph while weaving wildly. At one point, he slammed the brakes, forcing officers into an emergency stop.
Near Claydon, Dickenson’s vehicle went airborne over a grass bank after cutting across road markings. The furious chase ended when Dickenson crashed and flipped his car on the roundabout. He stood by the wreck with cuts to his face.
High on Booze, Violent to Officers
Dickenson blew almost three times the legal limit on a roadside breath test, recording 101 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. He refused a drug saliva test and later became verbally abusive to police and paramedics while being taken to Ipswich Hospital. At the hospital, he kicked a police officer’s head from behind as he tried to secure him on a trolley.
After treatment, Dickenson was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre and charged. His case began at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court days later.
Sergeant George Laflin, Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “Mitchell Dickenson’s actions were reckless and dangerous. It is incredibly fortunate nobody was seriously hurt.
The officers showed great professionalism and bravery during the pursuit, balancing risk with caution to protect other road users.
Dickenson showed total disregard for safety and behaved abhorrently towards emergency workers, assaulting and abusing them. That’s unacceptable.”
“I’m satisfied with the sentence handed down. Prison time and a long driving ban mean he’ll be off our roads for some time.”
