A dangerous driver who led police on a 20-mile pursuit around Ellesmere Port and the M53 motorway was told it was "sheer luck" he didn't injure or kill anybody.

Jonathon Jones, aka Jonathon Gallagher, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, which had seen him drive his car on to the wrong side of the road on more than one occasion, forcing oncoming drivers to take evasive action.

The 44-year-old former Army man, of Elsie Road, Liverpool, was handed a suspended prison sentence after Chester Crown Court, sitting at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 6, heard Jones had made much progress in battling substance abuse.

Prosecuting, Peter Hussey said it was on October 20, 2023 when Sergeant Adam Jones in Ellesmere Port was alerted to Jones in a blue Ford Fiesta travelling "very slowly" by Junction 9 of the M53, at about 20-25mph. Despite indicating Jones to pull over by flashing blue lights from his police vehicle, Jones drove on.

A police pursuit began as Jones drove off the motorway into the Ellesmere Port area, driving on the wrong side of the road several times, with oncoming traffic having to stop.

The "erratic" driving continued and Jones drove on to the M53, accelerating up to 90mph and undertaking other cars, weaving through "very heavy" traffic on a wet road.

Upon coming off the motorway in Upton, Wirral, Jones drove the wrong way around a roundabout and eventually stopped off-road, where he was arrested.

The court heard he had one previous conviction for a dissimilar matter from a long time ago, and was therefore effectively of previous good character.

Defending, mark Le Brocq said it was "entirely out of character" for Jones, who had been going through some trauma at the time.

No evidence had been supplied that he was under the influence of drink or drugs, and Mr Le Brocq said that should be decided in the defendant's favour.

Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett said he had noted from the pre-sentence report that Jones had a difficult childhood and had been suffering from PTSD after time in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Le Brocq added Jones had voluntarily sought help from agencies to address his issues, while three letters of support had been written for the court.

Judge Everett, sentencing, said Jones had driven "in a truly awful manner", adding: "Through sheer good luck, you did not kill yourself or anybody else."

The judge told Jones if he had killed someone else, the defendant would have been going to prison "for many years".

He added he had every sympathy with the defendant's plight up to the point where he started taking drugs, but recognised he was trying to deal with that.

Stepping back from immediate custody, the judge told Jones: "You have your chance, because you have earned it. If you don't [take it], it's yourself to blame."

Jones was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He must complete up to 25 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

He was also banned from driving for three years, and must take an extended retest to get back behind the wheel.