Salford man jailed after ramming officers in 100mph pursuit before fleeing and hiding under a bed

A man from Salford has been jailed following a pursuit in which he reached speeds of up to 100mph and rammed into a police vehicle.

Jayden O’Donnell, of Pilgrim’s Way, Salford, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of a bladed article, disqualified driving and having no insurance.

The 23-year-old was sentenced yesterday at Manchester Crown Court to 18 months imprisonment.

On 26 October 2024, at around 10.50pm, officers from North Manchester’s neighbourhood policing team were on patrol on Moston Lane when they sighted O’Donnell in a grey Mazda, having left a nearby pub.

Officers pursued the subject during which he went the wrong-way on a roundabout and exceeded 80mph, following which they lost sight of him.

Little more than a minute later, a further patrol nearby spotted the car going through red lights on Rochdale Road, at which point they joined in on the pursuit.

This saw the vehicle reach upwards of 100mph in a 30mph zone, driving recklessly through the streets and overtaking road users on the opposing carriageway.

During this pursuit, O’Donnell reverse-rammed into the officers’ vehicle twice, though they were thankfully uninjured.

He eventually exited his vehicle and ran up an alleyway, with officers not far behind.

He entered an address on Styhead Drive, and was discovered hiding under a bed, at which point he was arrested by PCs Ditta and Khan.

The Salford man later pleaded guilty to his offences.

Inspector Dan Pickavance, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Our officers are regularly out on patrol in the north Manchester area, and where they see suspicious activity, you can be sure they will investigate it.

“O’Donnell put road users’ lives at risk with his reckless driving and things could have been much worse – I am also glad that our officers weren’t injured as a result of his disgusting ram attack.

“All those involved, from the pursuit, to those who arrested him at taser-point in an address, behaved professionally and brilliantly, and I am glad their work has got O’Donnell off the streets.”