BMW driver who went on 140mph chase for over an hour told police he had a ‘need for speed’ after he was caught

A BMW driver who went on a 140mph chase for an hour-and-a-half told police officers he had a "need for speed" after he was finally caught.

Michael Shorter, 33, drank three pints and got behind the wheel before speeding away from police leading them on a chase for around 10 miles.

He drove so quickly through Worthing and Shoreham in West Sussex that several Roads Policing Unit specialist officers were called to track him down and safely bring the vehicle to a stop.

During the chase, Shorter refused to stop for police, reaching speeds of 130mph in a 50mph zone and 95mph in a 40mph zone.

He overtook vehicles on a blind bend and undertook vehicles on the A27 at 100mph during the chase last November 27.

Police were finally able to stop the driver by using stingers to burst his tyres.

Shorter said he had a ‘need for speed’

When Shorter was pulled from the BMW 1 series, he told officers: "I saw the blue lights and got scared. All I was doing was driving fast, I got scared.”

Shorter told officers he had a “need for speed” and claimed his reason for driving away from officers was because he “panicked” about having nine points already endorsed on his driving licence.

What he was sentenced to

At Hove Crown Court, Shorter admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop.

Judge Roger Chapple sentenced Shorter to a six-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified him from driving for two years.

The judge also seized the vehicle from Shorter and he was also ordered to pay £425 court costs plus a £128 surcharge.

‘It’s only down to luck that nobody was killed’

PC Tom Bezants, Sussex Roads Policing Unit officer said Shorter’s driving was “dangerous”, adding: “It is only down to luck that nobody was killed by his lack of regard for the safety of himself, his passenger or other road users.”

He said Shorter drove away from police at high speed, to the point where officers pursuing him at 140mph made no ground in catching him.

PC Bezants added: “The safe resolution of this incident involved officers from both the Roads Policing Unit and Tactical Firearms Unit, who worked together showing professionalism to safely bring Shorter to a stop.

“Excess speed is one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads, and we are determined to stop drivers who put themselves and everyone else at risk.

“This case shows dangerous motorists that they too could lose their licence and their vehicle, and demonstrates our determination to catch offenders to ensure our roads are safe.”

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