'Hardworking family man' crashed into police blockade after high-speed M1 chase

Ricky Tipper was more than twice over the drink drive limit when the pursuit began at just before 3am on November 25 last year, said prosecutor Ayesha Smart.

Specialist officers were summoned after he left the M18 for the M1, where he was weaving across four lanes and reaching speeds of 115mph.

He eventually slowed on to the hard shoulder, but kept rolling his car forward and scraping along the crash barrier.

When an officer got out and knocked on his door, he saw Tipper sprawled unconscious in the passenger seat.

The vehicle veered across the carriageway and collided with the central reservation before it was finally brought to a stop by a police blockade, Ms Smart said.

Before the chase, he caused £150 of damage to a glass door by ramming a wheelie bin into it while trying to collect a debt he was owed by the householder's son.

Richard Barradell, mitigating, said Tipper deserved full credit for his timely guilty plea and lack of previous convictions.

Tipper, 32, of Littlewood Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and dangerous driving at the magistrates' court on August 18.

Judge Sarah Wright told him he put other road users at “considerable risk.”

“It is astonishing that no one was seriously injured as a result of your highly dangerous behaviour,” she said. “You were over twice the legal limit for alcohol.”

But the judge added that a probation report indicated he was “normally a hardworking, dedicated and respected family man, and you're clearly remorseful.”

She noted he was addressing his issues with drugs and alcohol, and there was “a reasonable prospect of his rehabilitation.”

"Thankfully no one was hurt and this shocking episode was out of character,” Judge Wright said.

She handed him a 12-month community order and imposed a three-month curfew from 8pm to 5am. Tipper was banned from driving for 12 months and must take the extended driving test before he gets behind the wheel again.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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