High-speed car chase driver burgled Doncaster GP surgery

A man who led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car also burgled a GP surgery the day before, a court heard.
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Mark Stanton was spotted in a Ford Focus, in the early hours of July 23, and reached speeds of 100mph in the 20-minute pursuit, prosecutor Zaiban Alam told Sheffield Crown Court, on Friday.

During the course of the chase he overtook cars on the wrong side of the road, ran a red light and narrowly missed a cyclist, throwing items from the vehicle as he drove.

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"Smoke was coming from the rear tyres and the tyres made an audible screeching sound," said Ms Alam, as Stanton hit 87mph in a 30mph zone.

Warren Vale.Warren Vale.
Warren Vale.

His most dangerous manoeuvre was when he overtook an HGV on a blind bend, she added.

The chase ended when "chopsticks" were deployed on the junction of Warren Vale and Dale Street, Rawmarsh, where Stanton fought with officers and had to be Tasered.

The day before he stole a mobile phone belonging to a female member of staff from a consultation room at The New Surgery on Adwick Road, Mexborough.

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In a statement, the woman said: "I feel violated. I go to work to help people. It made me feel that my arms had been cut off because my life is on that phone."

Dermott Hughes, mitigating, said Stanton stole to fund a drugs habit, but the dad-of-three, who is now free from drugs, had not seen his youngest child as he had been in custody.

"For the first time in his life he seems to be taking stock of his life," he said. "His father is gravely ill. He is highly likely to pass away in the not-too-distant future. It very much affects Mr Stanton.”

The 36-year-old, of Beechville Avenue, Rotherham, admitted burglary, handling stolen goods, dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance or a licence, and failing to provide a sample.

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Judge Rachael Harrison told him he has a "horrendously long record for dishonesty and driving offences" and was on a suspended sentence at the time.

She handed him 27 months and two weeks in prison, and banned him from driving for four years and 11 months.