VIDEO – man leads police on 130mph chase near Thirsk

The investigating officer said it was “only by sheer luck that no one was killed” because of Jake Walker’s actions.

Walker drove the wrong way around roundabouts during his failed attempt to escape officers, North Yorkshire Police said.

The 22-year-old was first spotted by police on the A19 near Thirsk driving a silver Volkswagen Golf shortly before 3am on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Officers followed Walker along York Road towards Thirsk as the Golf accelerated to around 110mph, a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said.

Walker then failed to stop for the police’s blue lights and a pursuit began.

He continued to drive dangerously through Thirsk, including driving the wrong way around a roundabout at the junction of York Road and Long Street, the police spokesperson said.

He later reached speeds of up to 100mph in a 30mph zone.

The pursuit continued into South Kevington then on to the A19 southbound.

Officers recorded the Golf reaching 130mph while “straddling both lanes” on the A19, the police spokesperson said.

They said police deployed a stinger device which deflated the Golf’s tyres – but, despite this, Walker continued driving and entered a 20mph zone at speeds of around 80mph.

Walker abandoned the car in Thirsk and ran into a wooded area. He crossed a stream but was quickly located, detained and arrested by officers, the police spokesperson said.

Walker, who was the registered keeper of the vehicle, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, drug driving and possession of drugs.

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Police said a roadside drug wipe tested positive for cocaine. A small quantity of cocaine was recovered from the vehicle, and further searches in police custody located ketamine concealed in Walker’s clothing. Officers also found Walker was uninsured at the time.

A blood test later revealed that Walker had cocaine levels of more than three times the legal limit, including a benzoylecgonine (cocaine breakdown product) level of greater than 800 micrograms per litre of blood, far exceeding the legal limit of 50 micrograms.

Walker pleaded guilty to failing to stop, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession of Class A drugs (cocaine), possession of Class B drugs (ketamine) and two counts of drug driving (cocaine and benzoylecgonine).

‘Recklessness could easily have resulted in catastrophic consequences,’ say police

Walker, of Darrowby Close, Thirsk, was sentenced to 15 days rehabilitation, 200 hours unpaid community service and disqualified for driving for 36 months at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (April 30).

After the sentencing, investigating officer, traffic constable Michael McVay, said: “Walker’s actions were appalling, and his recklessness could easily have resulted in catastrophic consequences.

“From the moment he chose to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs, he showed a total disregard for the safety of others. Driving at extreme speeds, well beyond his ability to control the vehicle, he placed every other road user at serious risk.”