James Fitzpatrick confessed that he’d ‘nearly crashed a million times’ and ‘could have killed himself’
James Fitzpatrick, of Newsham Drive, aged 35(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man stole a pickup truck, sent it flying over a grass verge and 8ft into the air then crashed into a house before telling police he had never driven before. James Fitzpatrick reached speeds of up to 70mph in a 20mph zone as he led police on a chase through the streets.
Following an almost inevitable collision, he then confessed to officers that he had “nearly crashed a million times” and said he “could have killed himself”. The incident came mere months after he made his way onto the tracks at a railway station while high on drugs and fell asleep beside a train, becoming “irate” when he was eventual roused.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that British Transport Police attended Maghull North Station on May 15 this year after receiving reports that Fitzpatrick, of Newsham Drive in Tuebrook, was “acting erratically” and attempting to lie down on the electrified tracks. Officers subsequently located him underneath a railway bridge adjacent to a stopped train.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, described how the 35-year-old was found unconscious while lying on his back and was only woken up when shaken by PCs. At this stage, he “became immediately irate” and “verbally abusive”, while he was also unable to stand up unsupported.
Fitzpatrick then “resisted and refused to leave the tracks” when he escorted towards the platform, stating that he “didn’t want to harm himself” and had taken a cocktail of MDMA and ketamine. Having been taken to Copy Lane Police Station, he was found to be in possession of a number of bank cards, a Costco card and a Tesco Clubcard which had previously been stolen from an InPost delivery driver’s van while he was parked outside the company’s depot in Warrington.
The defendant subsequently refused to leave his cell in order to be interviewed by detectives. The altercation resulted in the cancellation of two trains, 12 further “part cancellations” and delays to services totalling 576 minutes, leading to Network Rail incurring losses of £8,292.38.
Having been released under investigation, Fitzpatrick then stole a Ford Ranger car from outside a house on Burnie Avenue in Bootle in the early hours of October 7. Later the same day, Merseyside Police received reports that the same vehicle was seen “beeping its horn” and “driving around the streets at speed” in the area of Hereford Drive in Netherton.
A patrol car thereafter attended the scene and parked behind Fitzpatrick, who reacted by “speeding off”. A subsequent pursuit saw him mount the kerb while navigating the junction with Park Lane before colliding with a traffic island.
Having run a red traffic light as he continued onto Park Lane West, he then increased to speeds of up to 70mph in the 20mph zone before travelling along Fleetwood’s Lane. There, he again mounted the pavement and drove onto a grassy area, with the vehicle “driving at such that it became airborne, complete jumping a grass verge”.
Pursuing officers estimated that the 4×4 “rose 8ft from the ground” at this stage before continuing onto Almond’s Turn. On nearby Granams Croft, Fitzpatrick then “accelerated without warning” into two parked cars and lost control, ultimately smashing through a garden fence and colliding with a house.
Under interview, he claimed that he had failed to stop as he was “scared” and said he was under the influence of alcohol, having also taken crack cocaine earlier in the day. He has a total of 21 previous convictions for 25 offences.
Lloyd Morgan, defending, told the court: “Although he has a number of previous convictions which will aggravate the offending, there are no similar convictions. His remorse is evidenced by his guilty plea and his acknowledgement of the consequences, or likely consequences, of the driving.
“This is a very different James Fitzpatrick that appears before the court today. He has taken steps to rehabilitate himself from substance and alcohol abuse. Since being in prison, he has not been in any trouble and has put his name down to undertake employment courses and drug and mental health courses to assist him when he is released from custody.”
Fitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, driving without a licence and insurance, causing an obstruction of a railway, resisting police and receiving stolen goods. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a pale blue Under Armour t-shirt, he sat with his arms folded as he was jailed for 28 months.
Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: “You were acting erratically and trying to lie on the electrified track. It is implicit that many members of the public will have been inconvenienced by your actions.
“You initially did not appear conscious. When you were woken, you became irate and abusive. There is no material before me which is suggestive of any mental health issues at that stage.
“While under investigation, police saw you driving a stolen 4×4. You made off at speed. You repeatedly drove down the wrong side road. You drove through a red traffic light without making any attempt to slow down.
“You drove at excessively high speeds throughout. You drove off-road at one point, gaining air as you did so. You collided with two parked vehicles, causing damage to both, before ploughing through a garden fence and into the front of a house.
“When arrested, you stated that you had nearly crashed a million times and could have killed yourself. This was a sustained piece of very dangerous driving.
“Shockingly, you told the police that this was the first time you had ever been behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. You described it as joy riding. There was nothing joyful about this at all. Frankly, it is astonishing that more damage wasn’t caused.”
Fitzpatrick was also banned from the roads for a total of 32 months. He will be required to pass an extended driving test before being allowed behind the wheel.