Harlow: Dangerous driver jailed

 

An uninsured driver who drove dangerously at speeds of up to 70mph along rural Essex roads has been jailed for 12 months.

Michael Maughan, 27, of Fern Hill Lane, Harlow, put lives at risk by driving on the wrong side of the road and on pavements during a 45-minute pursuit which ended in north London last month.

On 8 November, Colchester magistrates jailed Maughan for 12 months and disqualified him from driving for five years. Maughan was also ordered to pay a total of £272. He had previously admitted driving dangerously and driving without insurance.

The court was told that on 16 October 2022, officers from our Rural Engagement Team were called to reports of people in a Range Rover trespassing in pursuit of game on land in north-west Essex.

The Range Rover left the scene but was soon located by a National Police Air Service helicopter in Cambridge Road, Newport.

Rural engagement officers in two marked patrol vehicles attempted to stop the Range Rover at 3.14pm but Maughan, who was driving, failed to stop, hitting one of the police vehicles and disabling it in the process.

The officer in the second vehicle tracked the Range Rover as it reached speeds of 70mph in 30mph speed limits, forcing other drivers and a cyclist to take evasive action as it travelled through red traffic signals, on the wrong side of the carriageway and on pavements at times.

In Enfield in north London, Metropolitan Police vehicles arrived to assist but Maughan continued to drive dangerously in a heavily-populated urban area.

A second, unmarked, Essex Police vehicle was rammed by Maughan as he continued to try to escape.

The pursuit was ended just before 4pm by one of our rural engagement officers, who brought the Range Rover safely to a stop. Maughan was then arrested at on suspicion of dangerous driving.

The officer suffered minor injuries in the collision and received hospital treatment but was back on duty the next day.

“I’m proud of our Rural Engagement Team officers who helped stop a dangerous person in his tracks. They’ve shown our values in action:  professionalism, dedication and bravery.
"No-one expects to go head-on with a Range Rover in order to keep the public safe but that’s what they did and I’m proud of them.”
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington

 

“Our officer put himself in harm’s way in order to bring the pursuit to a safe conclusion. Maughan drove with complete disregard for the safety of other road users and it was a miracle no-one was killed or seriously injured as a result of his actions.
“Not only did he exceed the speed limit for the majority of the time, Maughan also ignored red lights, drove on the wrong side of the carriageway and mounted the pavement near pedestrians as he attempted to evade justice.
“But the Rural Engagement Team are a dogged lot and despite Maughan’s desperate attempts to escape from them, they were not going to let it happen.”
Sergeant Paul Brady, of our Rural Engagement Team

Our Rural Engagement Team

Our Rural Engagement Team was set up specifically to engage with our rural communities.

Officers investigate and help to prevent crimes which matter to you, such as theft of agricultural vehicles and technical equipment, hare coursing, fly-tipping and animal cruelty. 

And they also liaise with partner agencies to take enforcement action against those who breach legislation and to tackle specific rural issues through proactive operations.

Visit our rural crime webpages for specific crime prevention advice. You can also find out about our farm and rural watch scheme.

Anyone who experiences or who has information about crime or anti-social behaviour, should ring 999 if it’s an emergency or a crime in progress.

Otherwise you can report it online where you can also provide information directly to an online Live Chat operator between 10am and 9pm. Alternatively, you can ring 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or by calling 0800 555 111.

At Essex Police, we value difference, and know that we’re strongest when we all work together.

If you share our values and want to protect and serve our communities, why not join us?

Apply now and start your new career in 2023. If you apply by 5 January you could starting your fully-paid training in March.

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