Hampshire Traffic Cop Forced to Stand Trial After Chasing Teen Thief at High Speed
PC James Holden found himself in the hot seat after chasing a 19-year-old driving a stolen van recklessly through Portsmouth. The teenager, with a staggering 145 previous convictions, raced at high speed, ran red lights, and even went the wrong way on a dual carriageway.
Dangerous Pursuit Ends in Courtroom Drama
The chase ended when the thief smashed through a railway barrier and was finally stopped by another police unit. Shockingly, instead of praise, PC Holden was slapped with dangerous driving charges. The Crown Prosecution Service put him on trial, dragging him through what his lawyer called “12 months of hell.”
Footage from a camera inside PC Holden’s patrol car revealed the full intensity of the pursuit to the jury. Despite the risks, the officer was simply trying to do his job.
Backing From Police Chiefs and MPs
Defence barrister Mark Aldred slammed the legal system for unfairly blaming officers who engage in high-risk chases. Hampshire Federation Chair John Apter backed Holden, highlighting his advanced training and pointing out that no complaints were made and no members of the public were hurt.
“No police officer is above the law, but James was prosecuted for doing his job,” said Apter.
Calls for Legal Protection for Emergency Drivers
The police federation is now lobbying MPs to introduce laws safeguarding emergency drivers acting under training during 999 responses. They want to make sure heroes like PC Holden don’t get punished for protecting the public.
