Jailed: ‘Idiot’ biker whose passenger jumped for his life during high speed chase through York

A drug-riding motorcyclist sped from police as his terrified passenger jumped off the bike to avoid a potential catastrophe.

Elliott Jackson, 25, had no insurance nor licence when police spotted that his pillion passenger wasn’t wearing a helmet, York Crown Court heard.

When the flashing blue lights came on, Jackson accelerated onto Shipton Road towards the A1237 on the outskirts of York, then later turned onto the B1224, said prosecutor Katie Spence.

“Jackson tried to take the corner at high speed, causing the passenger to jump from the rear of the motorcycle,” added Ms Spence.

The passenger, who wasn’t injured, was arrested as the chase continued down the A1237, by which time two other police vehicles had joined the pursuit, forming a “box” to slow the motorbike down.

Jackson, from York, was travelling at double the 30mph speed limits and it’s believed that at one stage he had switched his lights off in a bid to escape police.

The chase came to an end after Jackson’s bike mounted a central reservation and drove on the wrong side of the carriageway on the outer ring road towards oncoming traffic, narrowly avoiding a collision.

“He lost control on the A1237 and was detained by officers,” said Ms Spence.

“He was searched and two grab bags of cannabis were recovered.”

Cannabis and cocaine

Jackson, of Magnolia Grove, New Earswick, was taken into custody where a blood test revealed he was three-and-a-half times over the drug-drive limit for cannabis and nearly seven times over the specified limit for Benzoylecgonine, a derivative or breakdown product of cocaine.  

He was charged with dangerous driving, having no insurance or licence, driving under the influence of drugs, and possessing cannabis. He admitted the offences and appeared for sentence yesterday (Tuesday, 13 September).

Kevin Blount, mitigating, said Jackson had “panicked” after seeing the flashing blue lights and sped off despite the bike having no chance of outrunning police.  

He said Jackson had “got himself in a crowd that was using drugs” and started smoking cannabis. He had taken cocaine at a party a few nights before the police chase on April 17.  

He said Jackson had since found himself work at a well-known restaurant chain where he was being trained as a chef. He and his girlfriend were expecting their first child.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, told Jackson: “You caused North Yorkshire Police to send three vehicles in pursuit of you. You were doing twice the speed limit; you had a passenger on the bike without a helmet.

“If he had come off at one of the high-speed parts of the chase you would have been up for causing death by dangerous driving, facing a very long prison sentence indeed.

“The police have better things to do than chase after idiots like you. Only an immediate prison sentence is appropriate for this kind of deliberate risk-taking with other people’s lives.”

Jailing him for six months, Mr Morris said he had reduced the sentence because Jackson had a baby on the way. Jackson was also given a 15-month motoring ban.