West Yorkshire Police helicopter used to catch serial drink driver during dangerous chase

A drink driver who was arrested after a police chase has been locked up for his third conviction for the offence in a year.
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A judge told Harry Garforth had had one of the the worst drink driving records he has ever seen as he was jailed for two years.

Leeds Crown Court heard the 28-year-old was three times over the drink drive limit when he was stopped in his car by police in Wakefield.

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Officers began following Garforth on Denby Dale Road after being contacted by a concerned member of the public.

Harry GarforthHarry Garforth
Harry Garforth

Garforth had a female passenger in the Vauxhall Corsa which he had taken without the owner's permission.

The defendant gave false details when he was stopped and found to be three times over the limit.

He kicked out at one of the officers as he was arrested.

Garforth was released on bail but arrested for drink driving again on January 17 this year.

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Police officers signalled for Garforth to stop on Kirkgate in Wakefield city centre in the early hours of the morning.

He sped off and drove through red lights and reached a speed of 80mph in a 30mph area.

Jessica Randall, prosecuting, said Garforth left the road and drove over a grassed area during the pursuit.

The West Yorkshire Police helicopter was deployed during the incident.

Garforth was eventually arrested in Kettlethorpe.

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Garforth, of Manygates Crescent, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving, two of driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, obstructing a police constable, assaulting an emergency worker and taking a vehicle without the owners consent.

The court heard Garforth was given a 19-week prison sentence in March last year for drink driving.

Kate Bisset, mitigating, said Garfoth was now determined to address his offending behaviour

Jailing him for two years, Judge Musthaq Khokhar said: "You knew you were going to get in to trouble and you drove off dangerously.

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"It is fortunate that in the early hours of the morning, on this occasion, there was not much traffic around for anything tragic to happen.

"You have one of the worst records I have seen.

"One can only image, when you were three times over the limit in October, if the slightest thing had gone wrong there could have been catastrophic consequences.

"Normally I am one of those judges who does give a chance to people who want to sort their lives out and mend their ways.

"In this case, I am afraid I cannot take the chance."