March man 'was chased by police at 80 mph near Downham schools', court told

A drug-driver reached speeds of more than 80 miles per hour while trying to evade police during a pursuit in Downham, a court was told this week.

The afternoon chase went past schools before Liam Nigel Mansfield gave the following patrol car the slip.

Lynn magistrates heard on Monday that 24-year-old Mansfield had little in the way of previous convictions.

But the string of motoring offences racked up on November 3 last year – particularly fraudulent use of number plates - was so serious that the case had to be sent to crown court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Jane Walker said PC Williamson spotted Mansfield driving a BMW on the A10 near Tottenhill and knew of the vehicle. The officer turned round and indicated for Mansfield to pull over but he failed to.

Other road users had to take evasive action and Mansfield passed vehicles on their nearside. The pursuit continued into Bexwell Road, a residential area with primary and secondary schools.

“Therefore it is a 30mph speed limit,” said Miss Walker. “There are speed bumps and a 20mph speed limit by the schools. The officer noted his speed as 80mph and the vehicle was still pulling away from him.”

PC Williamson lost sight of the vehicle but a member of the public told him it had gone into Church Road. It was found parked in Denver Hill and Mansfield emerged from a nearby garden.

He admitted the vehicle was on false plates because he couldn’t afford the insurance.

“I thought I could get away with it. I was silly,” he told police. A set of number plates which had been adapted were found inside the vehicle.

He later said that he had driven about 2,000 miles on false plates. Mansfield, of Alder Close, March, was found to be five times the prescribed limit for a derivative of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to drug-driving, fraudulent use of registration mark, failing to stop for a police officer, driving without due care and attention, having no insurance and possession of cannabis.

In mitigation, Andrew Cogan said Mansfield had mixed with the “wrong crowd” in Wisbech and started taking drugs but came to his senses and things had picked up after moving to March.

Magistrates imposed an interim driving ban on Mansfield and sent the case to crown court for a date to be fixed.