A man who drove at three times the speed limit in a stolen car during a police chase which went through Oldham has avoided jail.

At Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (October 18), Marco Cary was sentenced after pleading guilty to driving without a licence, driving without insurance, failing to stop a car when required, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving and possession of a knife in public.

Prosecutor Megan Horner told the court that on May 5 this year, a woman woke up at her home in Manchester and noticed her Vauxhall Astra had been stolen from her driveway, despite the fact she was still in possession of the keys for the car.

The following day, a police officer in an unmarked car saw the Vauxhall go through a red light in Moston and began following the car, which was being driven by 25-year-old Cary.

A pursuit began where Cary committed a number of offences, including driving at 90mph in a 30mph zone and driving on the wrong side of the road.

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Cary turned into Euston Avenue in Blackley, where he rammed into the police car by reversing, before the pursuit continued through Chadderton on roads including Broadway, Mough Lane and Whitegate Lane.

Eventually, the police officer lost sight of Cary, however he was spotted by a police helicopter abandoning the car and fleeing on foot.

He was eventually arrested by police and admitted to being the driver of the Vauxhall but denied he was behind its theft.

Cary was bailed to stay at his mother's address in Holyhead, Wales and on September 23, North Wales Police received a call about a man carrying a knife in a Tesco store.

Cary, who was serving a community order at the time of the offending, was searched and told police he had a knife, which was found to be 14cm in length when recovered.

Defending, Holly Nelson admitted that Cary had carried out "an objectively abhorrent piece of driving" and had driven "recklessly and dangerously" during the chase.

She said he was sorry to the police officer involved in the chase and the woman whose car had been stolen.

When passing sentence, Recorder Neil Usher said he accepted Cary felt genuine remorse and said it was rare for a defendant to apologise to the police officer as well as the victim.

He sentenced Cary, of Prince of Wales Road, Holyhead, to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend a thinking skills programme and 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

He also gave Cary an order to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

Recorder Usher said Cary had "come as close as anyone can" to being imprisoned and told the defendant to "make sure" it was his last appearance before the courts.