A mother drunk with cocaine led the police on a terrifying high-speed chase through southern Manchester.
Emma Ramsden, 39, was driving a stolen car on the wrong side of a two-lane road and turning onto sidewalks of residential streets in Didsbury, Withington and Burnage.
Manchester Crown Court heard that she had bought the Nissan Qashqai, which had been stolen in a burglary five days earlier, to sleep in.
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While in high cocaine use, she was spotted by a police officer on patrol who attempted a dangerous overtaking maneuver and nearly collided with the oncoming police motorcycle.
Prosecutor Claire Brocklebank told the court that this was followed by a car chase that lasted about 10 minutes before Ramsden lost control of the car and crashed into a tree.
Terrifying dashcam footage shows Ramsden driving on the wrong side of the A34 through Burnage and Didsbury and forcing oncoming cars to swerve.
Ramsden was on the wrong side of the A34
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The vehicle could also travel at speeds of up to 60 mph in residential areas and make multiple pavements to avoid police.
Ramsden didn’t stop the vehicle until after a police sting was used, causing her to lose control of the car and crash into a tree, Ms. Brocklebank said.
The court heard that the mother, who has a long history of drug addiction, has numerous criminal records for traffic offenses, theft and dishonesty.
Rhia Abukhalil defended Ramsden, saying her client had not used drugs since he was arrested a month ago.
“She has been a long-time drug addict. She built good relationships and had contact with her children, and for five years she did not use drugs,” said Ms. Abukhalil.
“When that relationship ended, she began to lose touch with her children and got into a bad relationship with a drug user, which led her to use crack cocaine again.
“She has not used any substances since her imprisonment and says she feels much better and more motivated. She accepts the severity of the crime. She is very sorry.
“The reason she got the car was opportunistic. She wanted to get the car to sleep. She said she didn’t want to sleep in a crack cave, but she had limited resources.”
Ramsden, of Bury Road, Bolton, was jailed for 16 months after admitting dangerous driving, drug driving, driving a vehicle without insurance, handling stolen property and driving without a license.
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Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said, “This is a very sad example of how little addiction to drugs can be. All they had to do was buy a car to sleep in.
“Then you drove rather horribly and seriously endangered other road users.
“You have crossed the line for cocaine in your blood. This crime is so serious that only a prison sentence can be imposed.”
Ramsden has also been banned from driving for four years and eight months and is being asked to take an extended retest.
