Derry man jailed for drug offences after 115mph police chase

Derry Crown Court heard today how a man, who subsequently admitted drug offences, drove at speeds in excess of 115mph during a police chase on the road between Ballykelly and Derry last August

Dylan Lockhart, 28, from Beraghvale in Derry pleaded guilty to committing a series of drugs offences involving supplying drugs and also admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He committed the driving offences while on bail for the drugs offences

Passing sentence Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that Lockhart, who had eighty-nine previous criminal convictions, four of them for drugs offences and twenty-two for road traffic offences, was arrested for the drugs offences last August. When the police triaged his mobile 'phone they found multiple drugs related messages offering to supply drugs.

After he was released on bail for the drugs offences Lockhart was observed by police officers driving from Ballykelly towards Derry. The officers knew he was a disqualified driver at the time and pursued Lockhart's car after he'd ignored police signals to stop.

During the high speed police chase Lockhart's car crossed the white line in the middle of the road causing oncoming cars to swerve. Police officers in position further along the road deployed a stinger device which punctured the tyres on Lockhart's car but he continued to drive on.

The court heard that police pulled their car alongside Lockhart's vehicle and he twice swerved into the police car. He stopped his own car, assaulted a police officer and ran off before he was eventually caught.

Judge Rafferty said Lockhart had a difficult childhood, became involved in drugs when he was a young adult.

He said Lockhart has been in custody for the last nine months and had passed every drugs test while in prison.

READ NEXT: Judge continues summarising evidence in Gerry Adams libel trial

"He is assessed as being a high likelihood re-offender, he was on bail for the drugs offences when he committed the driving offences, he has a relevant drugs record and he forced other road users to take evasive actions when he was effectively a fugitive from the police", he said.

Lockhart was jailed for 40 months and disqualified from driving for 5 years.