Washington Man Spared Jail After 125mph Police Chase While High on Drugs
A Washington man who led police on a terrifying high-speed chase through Sunderland while under the influence of cocaine and cannabis has avoided jail.
Craig Lloyd, 40, of Essex Drive, Washington, was spotted driving his red VW Golf at dangerous speeds on the A1231 in September 2023. When officers attempted to stop him, he fled—reaching speeds of up to 125mph, far exceeding the 70mph limit.
The pursuit, which lasted around six minutes, ended when Lloyd managed to temporarily evade officers at the junction with the A195 due to the sheer speed of his vehicle. Dash cam footage revealed police were unable to safely keep up with him.
When finally stopped, Lloyd told officers he fled because he had been “flying.” A roadside test found both cocaine and cannabis in his system, though he was not charged in relation to the drugs.
At Newcastle Crown Court, Lloyd admitted dangerous driving. The judge, Recorder Harry Vann, called it an “extraordinary speed” and a “terrifying reality” that officers could not keep up. He said Lloyd acted with “utter recklessness” and “no regard for the risks he caused,” though he acknowledged no injuries or dangerous manoeuvres occurred.
Lloyd, who had no prior convictions, was handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for two years, with an extended re-test requirement.
Defence barrister Christopher Knox said Lloyd had lost his job in offshore industrial maintenance due to the incident, describing him as a “perfectly respectable, hard-working man” whose reputation was destroyed in a matter of minutes.
