Oldham father-to-be crashed into building in 70mph police chase

Jaden Landregan was sentenced for dangerous driving, as well as driving without a licence or insurance at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on December 21.

Prosecuting barrister John Kennerley described the events leading up to Landregan’s arrest to the court.

He said the 23-year-old had been spotted by a police officer who was on patrol on February 26 in the early hours of the morning, while he was attending an unrelated matter in Limeside.

The officer saw a Ford Focus travelling at what he thought to be a speed in excess of 60mph.

He then pursued Landregan on Oak Road, Elm Road, and Lime Green Road, with Landregan passing another oncoming police vehicle, which was forced to take evasive action to avoid a crash.

During the chase, Landregan drove over a zebra crossing at 50mph and accelerated up to speeds of 70mph on the road, which was described to the court as a single carriageway, with speed bumps and vehicles parked on either side.

After Landregan tried to turn off Lime Green Road, he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a building, Mr Kennerley told the court. He then attempted to run off on foot and was chased by officers.

After he was threatened with a Taser, Landregan dropped to the ground and was detained and taken to hospital, where he made no comment to questions upon being interviewed.

The court heard Landregan, who also goes by Landredan, has three previous convictions for four offences, including an assault on an emergency worker which caused him to leave a course in Biology at Bangor University.

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: PA)

Defence describes ‘crucial sign of maturity’ with baby on the way

Mitigating, defence barrister Stuart Neale said that Landregan had explained he was an ‘idiot’ who had bought a car he wasn’t qualified to drive, saw the police, and in a panic drove away.

Mr Neale said: “He has in my view all the markers at present for rehabilitation in the community. At the moment, the life chances for him are lining up very favourably.”

He continued: “The other crucial sign of maturity is commitment to his partner, Ellie, who’s in the public gallery.

“He’s focussed on his life together when the baby arrives. His focus is to get work.”

Mr Neale added that a custodial sentence would be a ‘wholly retrograde step at this stage’ and that the couple ‘want to set up a new life, turn a corner, and put all this behind them’.

Follow The Oldham Times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads.

Judge’s stern warning

Sentencing, Recorder Nathan Moxon noted that the offence had taken place while Landregan had been serving a community order.

However, the judge added that Landregan was ‘not without intelligence’ as evidenced by his starting a degree course before he began to offend.

Landregan, of  Keswick Avenue, Oldham, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with a requirement to complete a thinking skills programme, a 15-day rehabilitative programme, and 150 hours of unpaid work, on top of 96 hours of unpaid work he has yet to complete from a previous order.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and cannot receive his full licence back until he passes an extended re-test. His licence will also be endorsed as a result of driving without a licence and insurance.

Recorder Moxon said: “Given the probation officer’s assessment of your maturity and the fact you’ve failed to comply with the previous order, it seems necessary for me to keep this simple for you: if you do not do what your probation officer says, when they say it, you will go to prison.

“You will miss the birth of your child and your child’s first few months. I anticipate this is something your partner will be re-iterating for you outside.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.