A 39-year-old man has been jailed after leading police on a dangerous high-speed pursuit through Norwich.
Adrian Read, of Gas Hill, Norwich, appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on 17 December 2025. He admitted charges including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, taking a vehicle without consent, and failing to provide a blood specimen.
Read was sentenced to one year in prison, disqualified from driving for 56 months, and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £187.
The incident occurred on 15 December 2025 at around 5.20pm on Thorpe Road. Police spotted a silver Ford Focus, reported stolen, heading towards Carrow Road. Read refused to stop, triggering a high-speed chase.
During the pursuit, Read drove at speeds exceeding 60mph in a 30mph zone, crossed to the wrong side of the road multiple times, and ran two red lights. The chase was called off for public safety, but Read eventually stopped outside Norwich train station. He fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers.
His passenger, a woman in her 30s, was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of class A drugs, and taking a vehicle without consent. She has been released on bail pending further investigation.
PC Hall described Read’s driving as “exceptionally dangerous” and said, “Read’s actions put many lives at risk. Thankfully, nobody was injured or killed. I am pleased he has been removed from Norfolk’s roads for the foreseeable future.”
Norfolk Police highlighted its December campaign to fast-track court dates for drink or drug driving offences, aiming to quickly remove dangerous drivers and improve road safety across the county.
