Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Wednesday 26th March 2025, at 12:50hrs
A Salford man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after a dangerous high-speed pursuit that saw him reach speeds of up to 100mph and ram a police vehicle.
Jayden O’Donnell, 22, of Pilgrim’s Way, Salford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of a bladed article, disqualified driving, and driving without insurance.
The incident occurred on October 26, 2024, at approximately 10:50 pm. Officers from North Manchester’s neighbourhood policing team spotted O’Donnell leaving a pub on Moston Lane in a grey Mazda.
Upon noticing the police presence, O’Donnell sped off, initiating a high-speed chase.
O’Donnell drove recklessly, reaching speeds exceeding 60mph on Moston Lane and later going the wrong way around a roundabout.
Officers lost sight of the vehicle briefly, but another patrol soon spotted him running red lights on Rochdale Road and joined the pursuit.
The chase escalated as O’Donnell reached speeds of up to 100mph in a 30mph zone, overtaking other vehicles on the wrong side of the road and posing a significant danger to other road users.
During the pursuit, he twice reversed his vehicle and rammed the police car, though thankfully, the officers involved were not injured.
O’Donnell eventually abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot, running into an alleyway. Officers pursued him and found him hiding under a bed at an address on Styhead Drive, where he was arrested by PCs Ditta and Khan.
At Manchester Crown Court, O’Donnell pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Inspector Dan Pickavance, from Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) City of Manchester district, praised the officers involved, stating,
“Our officers are regularly out on patrol in the north Manchester area, and where they see suspicious activity, you can be sure they will investigate it.
O’Donnell put road users’ lives at risk with his reckless driving and things could have been much worse – I am also glad that our officers weren’t injured as a result of his disgusting ram attack.
All those involved, from the pursuit to those who arrested him at taser-point in an address, behaved professionally and brilliantly, and I am glad their work has got O’Donnell off the streets.”
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