Moment drugged-up mini-moto rider, 27, leads police on chase though park with a CHILD on his lap wearing no helmet as he is banned for 18 months
- Christopher Stanier caught driving vehicle near playground in Stoke-on-Trent
- Neither him or the youngster were wearing helmets or protective clothing
- He fled from officers along roads and pavements and was chased through park
- Stanier has now been hit with an 18-month driving ban after the ‘stupid’ incident
This is the moment a drugged-up mini-moto rider driver is chased by police with a child on his lap.
Christopher Stanier, 27, was seen driving the vehicle next to a playground in Stoke-on-Trent, with neither him or the youngster wearing helmets or protective clothing.
When the child was offloaded into a van, Stanier fled from officers along roads and pavements before being chased across fields by a police biker.
Now Stanier – who is due to start work as a self-employed joiner – has been hit with an 18-month driving ban at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
Christopher Stanier, 27, was seen driving the vehicle next to a playground in Stoke-on-Trent, with neither him or the youngster wearing helmets or protective clothing
Staffordshire Police had deployed a plane to catch off-road bikers when they spotted Stanier from the air in Abbey Lane, Abbey Hulton, at 5.45pm on June 14.
He then fled after offloading the child in the Fellbrook Way and Werrington Road area of Bucknall.
Prosecutor Alicia Perry said: ‘The officer activated blue lights requiring the rider to stop. But he turned into the Give Way junction at Ruxley Road without looking.
‘He showed no concern for other road users. Due to concerns the police dropped back.
‘The defendant made his way through Bentilee, Park Hall, Weston Coyney and Meir using a variety of pavements and roads.
‘An officer on a motorbike was directed to a footbridge over the A50 and he waited. He relocated to Lysander Road and an area of open parkland.
‘He entered the airfield and was directed to a wooded copse by a dog walker. He saw the rider go back on the footpath to Lysander Road.
‘The rider went into Mollison Road. The defendant was tracked to a path and arrested.’
A test revealed Stanier was over the cannabis drug-driving limit.
Stanier, of Werrington Road, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and drug-driving.
When the child was offloaded into a van, Stanier fled from officers along roads and pavements before being chased across fields by a police biker
Now Stanier – who is due to start work as a self-employed joiner – has been hit with an 18-month driving ban at North Staffordshire Justice Centre
Zoe Leese, mitigating, said: ‘He describes his actions as stupid, especially given the fact a child was with him.’
His 12-month community order includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 60 hours unpaid work and an eight-week curfew from 7pm to 7am. He must also pay £185 costs and a £95 surcharge.
Staffordshire Police have welcomed the sentence.
PC Craig Beardsley, from the force’s road policing unit, said: ‘Stanier showed little regard for the safety of himself or the young child – with neither wearing helmets nor the necessary safety gear.
‘He was over the legal limit for cannabis and put himself and the child at a great risk of serious injury. Fortunately, no-one was hurt.
‘We are acutely aware of the impact nuisance motorcyclists have on our communities across Stoke-on-Trent and we are doing all we can to limit the alarm and distress to local residents.
‘We continue to target those responsible and we can do this with the help of colleagues at the National Police Air Service. It is a great tool in allowing us to track and tackle nuisance motorcyclists in a safe manner – giving us a unique perspective on an unfolding incident.
‘This helps reduce the risk to the public, to officers and to the rider themselves.’