Sheffield man with "atrocious" record sentenced after 90mph police chase crash
“This was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road”
A Sheffield man has been sentenced after reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour in a police chase.
Jay Williams, aged 42, of Hawthorn Road, High Green, was caught by police nine minutes into a chase after he crashed into a tree.
At around 12.50am on December 6, 2024, Williams was seen by police driving a Skoda Yeti on Wordsworth Avenue, near Parson Cross park.
Curtis Dunkley, prosecuting, said that police began to follow the vehicle as they “believed he was trying to conceal himself”.
He was also in excess of the speed limit, driving at speeds of 80 and 90 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone.
On the night of the offence, the court heard the “roads were damp” and “visibility was restricted” due to darkness.
Police officers followed Williams in his vehicle, but he failed to stop for them, and continued to approach a crossroads at 90mph, “driving at speed” in residential areas and even drove on the “wrong side of the carriageway” at one point.
Then, after turning a left hand corner, he crashed into a tree and was arrested.
Williams was uninsured and banned from driving at the time.
Mr Dunkley shared that Williams got “scared and panicked”, but accepted that he “ignored the rules of the road”.
His previous convictions include dangerous driving, driving without insurance and drink driving.
His latest conviction was for dangerous driving, but he was released on licence at the time of the police chase and crash, the court heard.
Matt Jones, defending, said Williams is a father-of-two and a carer for his partner.
A relative of his was recently involved in a road traffic collision which left them paralysed, and for this reason, Mr Jones said Williams is “aware he could have inflicted something similar, and is very grateful he hasn’t”.
“He wants to be a role model to his 15 year old son,” said Mr Jones.
Sentencing him, Recorder Alexander Trent said: “You have a lengthy record of convictions over a 25 year period.
“You drove on the wrong side of the carriageway, narrowly missing an emergency vehicle.
“This was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.”
He described his driving record as “frankly appalling” and "atrocious".
Williams was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and was given 100 hours of unpaid work on October 27 at Sheffield Crown Court.
There was also a probation requirement and a 12 month mental health treatment requirement given.
He was banned from driving for a further five years.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that Williams was sentenced to an immediate 12 months in prison, but this was not the case following a hearing later the same day which The Star was not aware of. The correct sentence is 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 100 hours of unpaid work.