Teesside driver banned after 130mph drug-fuelled chase through Thirsk
Jake Walker, 22, led North Yorkshire Police on a dangerous high-speed pursuit near Thirsk while over three times the cocaine limit. He was disqualified from driving for three years.
Thirsk driver banned for three years after 130mph police chase on A19
A 22-year-old man from Thirsk has been disqualified from driving for 36 months after leading North Yorkshire Police on a high-speed pursuit reaching 130mph in the early hours of Sunday, 2 November 2025, darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk reports.
Jake Walker, of Darrowby Close, Thirsk, was first spotted by officers on the A19 near Thirsk shortly before 3am, driving a silver Volkswagen Golf. As police followed him along York Road towards the town, the Golf accelerated to around 110mph.
Walker failed to stop when officers activated their blue lights, triggering a pursuit through Thirsk. He drove the wrong way around a roundabout at the junction of York Road and Long Street and later reached speeds of up to 100mph in a 30mph zone.
The chase continued into South Kilvington before joining the A19 southbound, where officers recorded the Golf travelling at 130mph while "straddling both lanes", according to a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson.
Police deployed a stinger device which deflated the car's tyres. Despite this, Walker continued driving and entered a 20mph zone at around 80mph before abandoning the vehicle in Thirsk and fleeing into a wooded area. He crossed a stream but was quickly located, detained and arrested by officers.
A roadside drug wipe tested positive for cocaine, and a small quantity of cocaine was recovered from the Golf. Searches at the police station revealed ketamine concealed in Walker's clothing. Officers also established he was uninsured at the time of the pursuit.
A subsequent blood test showed Walker had cocaine levels more than three times the legal limit. His benzoylecgonine level — a cocaine breakdown product — exceeded 800 micrograms per litre of blood, against a legal limit of 50 micrograms.
Walker pleaded guilty at Harrogate Magistrates' Court to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance, possession of Class A drugs (cocaine), possession of Class B drugs (ketamine), and two counts of drug driving relating to cocaine and benzoylecgonine.
At the hearing on Thursday, 30 April, he was sentenced to 15 days rehabilitation, 200 hours of unpaid community service, and disqualified from driving for 36 months.
Traffic Constable Michael McVay, the investigating officer, said after sentencing: "Walker's actions were appalling, and his recklessness could easily have resulted in catastrophic consequences. From the moment he chose to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs, he showed a total disregard for the safety of others."
McVay added that it was "only by sheer luck that no one was killed" as a result of Walker's driving.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)