Drug-fuelled Sheffield driver sped away from police with deflated tyres

Aaron Guest, aged 22, of Edge Well Crescent, Birley Edge, fled from police after he was seen in an Audi A3 at a McDonald’s restaurant drive-thru, at Hillsborough, with suspcious number plates, according to a Sheffield Magistrates’ Court hearing.

Chantel Lowery-Green, prosecuting, told the hearing on July 14 how Guest was spotted by police before he drove over a Stop Stick tyre deflation device and continued through a red light on Penistone Road.

Ms Lowery-Green added that Guest turned into Bradfield Road and Holme Lane reaching speeds of 50mph in a 30mph zone with deflated tyres before he stopped and his passengers tried to run away.

Police found cannabis valued at £15 and Guest failed a roadside drug test for the class B drug, according to Ms Lowery-Green.

Ms Lowery-Green added officers later found a cannabis plant, a retractor fan and further quantities of cannabis at Guest’s home.

Guest pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing cannabis and driving without a licence and insurance after the incident on September 5, 2020.

He also admitted driving when the proportion of a controlled drug in his blood, namely the cannabis component Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, exceeded the specified limit for driving.

Guest also pleaded guilty to producing a quantity of cannabis.

Arshaid Bashir, defending, said Guest had bought the vehicle but had not cross-checked the logbook which showed a different registration.

Mr Bashir added the pursuit had lasted a short distance with little traffic and Guest had not realised his tyres were deflated.

Guest also claimed he had the cannabis and the plant for his own personal use because he does not want to associate with drug-dealers, according to Mr Bashir.

Mr Bashir said Guest, who has mental health issues, also claims that when the car hit a kerb it was as a result of one of the police cars causing him to veer left not as a result of his driving.

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report from the probation service and committed the case to Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on August 11. Guest was relased on bail.