Machete found after 110 mph car chase

A HIGH-speed police chase led to the discovery of a razor-sharp machete in a car.

The pursuit began early on Monday morning after police spotted a Vauxhall Vectra travelling at 110mph in a 50mph section of the M1 heading north.

Officers believed the car had been involved in an incident in Doncaster earlier in which some people were threatened with a weapon, possibly a firearm.

The Vectra was followed onto the Sheffield Parkway and into the city, while extra officers in vehicles suitable for pursuit tactics made their way to the area.

Police said that the Vectra’s driving was "erratic" and kept speeding up and slowing down, ranging from just over the speed limit to almost double it.

But the Vectra driver realised he was being pursued and sped off from the Park Square roundabout.

The Vectra continued along City Road and onto Prince of Wales Road before turning back onto the Parkway heading out of Sheffield.

The driver then drove through Swallownest and to Whiston crossroads in Rotherham, reaching speeds of 110mph.

At Whiston crossroads, the driver drove along the wrong side of the dual carriageway, and drove along East Bawtry Road, at times on the wrong side of the road, at speeds of around 80mph.

The Vectra continued through Wickersley and up to junction one of the M18 before going into Maltby where, at Queen's crossroads, it turned towards Old Edlington in Doncaster.

A police spokesman said: “The pursuing officers noticed that every time the Vectra braked heavily, sparks showered from the front brakes, as metal ground against metal.

“Once in Doncaster, and with the helicopter overhead to assist us, the Vectra headed for Woodfield Plantation and Balby, his driving becoming worse and worse.

“After a couple of laps of Balby, the driver found a cul-de-sac in which to abandon his car, the driver and the front seat passenger both decided that they would try and ‘give it legs’ to get away from us.

“Unfortunately for them, the helicopter watched as the driver did his best to hide in a nearby bush.”

The front seat passenger tried to hide by jumping into a full water butt and pulling the lid back over him. 

Police discovered just his nose and mouth sticking out of the water when they lifted off the lid.

The police spokesman said: “When we went back to the car, we found a large, razor-sharp machete had been stuffed down the back of the driver’s seat, sticking up in the air so that the driver could easily reach it by reaching over his shoulder.”

The driver and passenger were arrested for a number of offences, including aggravated burglary and driving offences. The driver was also wanted on a prison recall.