Knaresborough Vauxhall Astra drug driver jailed after chase

The county’s police say Philip Lee Raine, 32, of Manor Road, Knaresborough, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court on Wednesday (August 21) to dangerous driving, failing to stop for the police and three counts of drug driving and he was jailed for a year.

They say officers became suspicious of Raine’s Vauxhall Astra and indicated for him to stop as he travelled through Knaresborough in the early evening of February 3 this year.

He failed to stop for officers and led them on a pursuit lasting 15 minutes during which he drove at twice the speed limit through built up areas, drove through red lights, mounted pavements, crossed solid white lines, forced other motorists to take evasive action, and collided with another car. 

The pursuit came to a stop at the end of a cul-de-sac and following a short chase on foot, Raine was arrested. A test following his arrest showed cocaine, ketamine and benzoylecgonine in his blood stream.

Philip Lee Raine (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

Investigating officer, traffic constable Gary Dukes, of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “Raine’s shocking manner of driving was extremely dangerous, putting members of the public and himself at great risk of serious injury or worse.

“The sentence sends a clear message that North Yorkshire Police and the criminal justice system will not tolerate such appalling, life-threatening driving and it is right that he has been taken off the roads.

“Road safety is a priority for North Yorkshire Police and we’ll take robust action against anyone who puts the safety of members of the public at risk. Anyone who thinks they can evade arrest by driving dangerously needs to think again. We will use all our powers to remove them from the roads including the deployment of our highly-skilled pursuit-trained officers.”

Raine was also disqualified from driving for three years and must pass an extended driving test.

Watch the video of the police chase and arrest here.