pursuit Banned driver accused of leading cops on rush hour car chase remanded

Richard Jones from Ardoyne allegedly ran red lights in a Ford Transit before the PSNI caught up with him

Ricky Jones

Paul Higgins

March 12 2022 02:07 PM

A banned driver was remanded into custody today after he led police on a rush hour pursuit in north Belfast.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard that with the Ford Transit van running red lights and driving into oncoming traffic during Friday evenings rush hour, pursuing police halted the chase over fears for public safety and instead called in the police helicopter.

Richard Jones (24), from the Ardoyne Road, was arrested when officers in the helicopter “picked up a male running away and trying to hide in a hedge".

Appearing at court from police custody, Jones confirmed that he was aware of the seven charges against him - dangerous driving, driving while banned, driving without insurance, failing to remain, failing to report and two counts of failing to stop on 11 March this year.

Giving evidence to the court Const. McKinney said she believed she could connect Jones to each of the charges and outlined how officers spotted him driving the van on the Crumlin Road at 5pm on Friday evening.

Aware that he is disqualified, officers following him across a number of streets but when they signalled for the van to stop, Jones drive off, clipping another vehicles wing mirror, running a red light, driving against the flow of traffic and leading other cars to “narrowly avoid” a collision.

As the van entered the Shankill Road, officers stopped the pursuit but the helicopter was able to assist and when he was arrested, Jones told cops: “I have kept my nose clean for four months… What’s the chances of getting bail and getting it dealt with.”

During interviews Jones denied being the driver and applying for bail, defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna said that according to his client, his colleague in their “man with a van” business had been the driver.

District Judge Amanda Henderson said given Jones’ “very serious driving record….there must be a high risk to the public” so refusing bail, she remanded Jones into custody and adjourned the case to 6 April.