Bolton: Biker chased down by police helicopter and dogs

Frederick Allen, 32, was spotted by police on Higher Market Street, Farnworth on November 18 this year just before 11pm.

Bolton Crown Court heard how he sped away  after the officers turned on their emergency lights and gave chase.

Prosecutor Niamh McGinty said: “The defendant was seen driving a stolen motorbike, it was on cloned plates.”

She added: “The defendant is described as driving through pedestrianised areas of Bolton town centre on a busy Saturday evening."

Ms McGinty told the court how Allen, who looked on via video link from prison in Birmingham, drove down a small ginnel in a bid to escape the pursuing officers.

He was chased down by a police helicopter before eventually being knocked off his motorcycle and trying to get away on foot.

Ms McGinty said: “He made attempts to make off but a police dog detained him a short distance later.”

Frederick Allen (Image: GMP)

The court was played dashcam footage of the pursuit across roads including Higher Market Street, Frederick Street, Albert Road and Cleggs Lane.

Allen, who has 35 previous convictions for 66 offences, was arrested and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while banned and driving without insurance when brought before magistrates.

Kevin Liston, defending, accepted that “the outcome is inevitable” in a case like Allen’s but said he was entitled to credit for admitting his guilt.

He also accepted the defendant’s long previous record but claimed he had been trying to turn his life around since his last conviction.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Liston said: “He has tried to stay away from vehicles, his friend said he had this motorbike, he had a go, a police chase followed.”

He added: “He is someone who has ambitions to do better, he admits he has failed on this occasion.”

Mr Liston also pointed out that Allen, of Primrose Street South, Tyldesley, had not tried to deflect blame onto anyone else and had not been carrying any passengers at the time.

The chase took place on a Saturday night (Image: CPS)

Judge Jon Close noted that the 32-year-old defendant had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

But he reminded him of how serious his actions had been.

Judge Close said: “The police tried to stop you, what followed was a quite appalling pursuit.”

He added: “Taken together it was a quite appalling piece of driving over a prolonged period.”

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He also pointed out that Allen’s driving had could have been extremely dangerous to people out on  a busy Saturday night in Bolton.

He said: “It was only after the police knocked you off your bike that the chase came to an end and even then you ran off.”

Judge Close jailed Allen for 14 months and banned him from the roads for a total of three years and seven months.

Before he left, Judge Close told Allen “Every time you drive you put not only yourself but those around you at risk, I hope you realise that going forward.”