Danger driver is sent to jail after multiple collisions

JAILED . . . .Leighton Browne

A DANGEROUS driver from Oldham smashed into three cars as he sped away from police.

Leighton Browne (24), of Craven Street, was arrested but two months later was involved in another car crash when drugs were found in his car.

He was jailed for three years and six months at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday after admitting dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a licence and possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

At around midday on December 9 last year, Browne was spotted driving a silver Golf while uninsured in Hurst Green.

A police officer signalled for him to pull over but Browne ignored him and sped off at high speed into a residential area.

A pursuit took place and he came to a stop when he crashed head on into a Mercedes being driven by an elderly man. He also hit two other cars.

The Mercedes was written off and the driver was injured but Browne fled.

Following an extensive investigation by officers he was arrested after DNA samples taken from the airbag identified him.

He was arrested again on February 7 after another collision when officers found heroin and cocaine hidden in a tube of crisps in the car he was driving.

PC Chris Kitson, from GMP's specialist operations team, said: "In a bid to evade custody Browne was prepared to put the lives of other road users at risk only to get caught by police in the end.

"What he did was completely reckless and could have had devastating consequences for innocent people. Luckily the man who was injured as a result of the collision has since made a full recovery.

"Browne thought he was above the law but his arrogance got the better of him when DNA evidence matched him to the car and he was caught again by police, this time with Class A drugs.

"He will now have three and a half years in prison to think about what his arrogance has cost him."