Moped rider who 'does not play by the rules' crashed after high-speed police chase

A disqualified driver who persistently “does not play by the rules” led police on a high-speed chase which came to an end and saw him hospitalised when he crashed in an alleyway. Footage played at Nottingham Crown Court showed Aiden Galloway weaving in and out of traffic, speeding and jumping a red light before trying - and failing - to squeeze down the twitchel next to a tram stop in Basford.

The 32-year-old father, whose current partner is also now pregnant again, then told the court he “felt like kicking off” after not being spared immediate custody and, instead, sent to jail, by the judge. Handing him a 10-month prison term, Recorder Mark McKone said: “Mr Chignell (his barrister) has said absolutely everything he could on your behalf.

“But you don’t play by the rules and selfishly ignore court orders. You then expect hard-working taxpayers to pay for you to be in jail.

“You have regularly gone to prison for driving while disqualified and you continue to drive. I have seen the video of what happened which showed you being chased by the police and your driving throughout it put other road users at risk.

“I accept this will have an impact on your family but equally I am not convinced at all you are somebody capable of being rehabilitated by an alternative to custody.” Katrina Wilson, prosecuting, said an unmarked police car spotted the moped being driven by Galloway on Melbourne Road, Aspley, at around 1.30pm on September 16, 2023.

She said having noticed them, the defendant “made off” and headed at speed towards Aspley Lane and then on to the ring road and Nuthall Road. The prosecutor said: “During the chase the police car had to accelerate to 90mph to catch up with him and he was doing 68mph in a 40mph.

“He drove on the opposite carriageway in an attempt to evade police and another car had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. He weaved in and out of traffic, down a bus lane and then rode at speed down Basford Road and then Lincoln Street, took a corner and crashed in an alleyway next to the tram stop.”

Miss Wilson said Galloway, of Durnford Street, Basford, was hospitalised for a number of days due to the injuries. He then admitted what he had done and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and possession of cannabis which was found when his coat was searched.

The defendant has 10 convictions for 23 offences. Luc Chignell, mitigating, said his client has a number of children with previous partners and an eight-month old daughter with his current one, who is also pregnant.

He said in the 15 months since this happened, the defendant has not driven or broken the law. Mr Chignell said: “His explanation in the pre-sentence report is that he suffers some form of anxiety on public transport. He has changed, he says he has grown up and perhaps being the parent of an eight-month old child, I suggest, has caused that change.”

As well as the jail term, the judge disqualified Galloway from driving for three years and five months.