Drug-driver foiled by cul-de-sac is jailed

Philip Raine, 32, has been jailed for a year following the pursuit in Knaresborough

A drug-driver who tried to evade police while travelling at twice the legal speed limit has been jailed.

Philip Lee Raine, 32, drove through red lights, mounted pavements, crossed solid white lines and collided with another car during a 15-minute pursuit in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, in February 2024.

Following his arrest, he was found to have traces of cocaine and ketamine in his bloodstream, according to police.

At York Crown Court on Wednesday, Raine, of Manor Road, Knaresborough, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and three counts of drug-driving and was jailed for a year.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and must pass an extended re-test.

The 32-year-old was involved in a 15-minute pursuit by police in February

North Yorkshire Police said officers became suspicious of Raine after he failed to stop for them and gave chase until he was forced to stop at the end of a cul-de-sac.

He then ran away before officers caught him.

Traffic constable Gary Dukes, of the Roads Policing Group, said: “Raine’s shocking manner of driving was extremely dangerous, putting members of the public and himself at great risk of serious injury or worse.

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that North Yorkshire Police and the criminal justice system will not tolerate such appalling, life-threatening driving and it is right he has been taken off the roads."

He added: "We will use all our powers to remove these drivers from the roads, including the deployment of our highly-skilled pursuit-trained officers.”

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