Man driving at 130mph towards York nearly killed taxi driver during police chase
Drug courier James Johnson (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
A drug courier nearly killed a taxi driver as he fled police at 130mph towards York, the city’s crown court heard.
James Johnson, 31, had 10kg of cocaine in his Audi A3 worth between £280,000 and £310,000, said Kelly Clarke, prosecuting.
When he spotted police on his tail, he started weaving at high speed through heavy traffic heading for the Leeds Festival on the M1 and A1(M) at lunchtime on August 28.
Part of the pursuit (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
“He was hitting speeds of more than 130mph,” Ms Clarke said.
At the Tadcaster exit of the A64 he crashed into a taxi, damaging both vehicles and bringing himself to a stop.
Police, whom he had momentarily outdistanced, caught up with him and found the cocaine and £160 in cash, said the barrister.
In a personal statement, the taxi driver said: “I feel like I am lucky to be alive. I am in pain every day, sometimes it is out of control.”
He broke his shoulder and ribs and doctors have yet to rule out internal injuries.
He also cannot drive and earn money for his family, fetch the shopping or take them on everyday journeys.
Ms Clarke said Johnson had previously served two jail terms totalling six years and nine months for drug supply offences in Scotland and Wales.
Jailing him for eight years and banning him from driving for six years, the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, said: “You have been moving around the country peddling misery.”
About the driving, he said: “When you did that you are a risk to the lives of the police and you are a risk to the lives of other road users.
“As you were hurtling along at your breakneck speeds coming the other way was a hardworking taxi driver. You are lucky you didn’t kill him.”
Johnson, of Kiwi Street, Salford, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply it to others, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a licence.
In addition to the eight-year jail term and six-year driving ban, he was ordered to take an extended driving test before driving unsupervised again and the £160 he had with him on his arrest will be given to the taxi driver as compensation. The Audi was confiscated.
RECOMMENDED READING
- Man, 40, arrested after 'weapons' found after vehicle stop on Yorkshire motorway
- West Yorkshire pair planned to 'make a killing' in North Yorkshire town, court hears
- WATCH – man sentenced for cutting across two lorries at 90mph on Yorkshire motorway
- Wanted man who drove at North Yorkshire Police officer at high speed is jailed
Detective Constable Will Robertson, of North Yorkshire Police, said after the case: "Johnson showed a blatant disregard for other drivers on what was a very busy road.
“His car contained a large amount of cocaine, which would have spread further misery in our communities.
“And his dangerous driving resulted in serious injuries to a taxi driver, and destroyed his means of earning a living - his taxi. Johnson has now been made to face the consequences of his actions."
Defence barrister Nathan Davis said Johnson was a courier trying to pay off a £20,000 drug debt. Those to whom he owed the debt would knock on his door without warning and tell him to take drugs immediately to a destination they specified.
Johnson had managed to go straight by moving city after his Scottish and Welsh convictions but then had suffered three family bereavements in seven months and had turned to drugs to cope.
He was remorseful for the consequences of his actions to others including the taxi driver and his partner who will have to cope without his support, said Mr Davis. Johnson had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder when he was 10 and was easily exploited by others.