Drug-crazed student in 100mph police chase while trying to inject heroin
A drug-crazed motorist led police on a 100mph motorway chase – while trying to inject heroin into her arm, a court heard.
Student Rachel Curtis, 23, drove in a "suicidal" manner with a tourniquet around her arm as she fumbled to pierce herself with a syringe.
She led officers for 30 miles along the M4 between Bristol and Bath before police crashed into her at Leigh Delamere in Wiltshire.
Officers approached the stolen Ford Focus and found her with a needle hanging out of her arm.
Curtis admitted one charge of dangerous driving, one charge of possessing class A drugs and one charge of driving while uninsured at Bristol Crown Court.
She was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months on Thursday.
The drama began in the early hours of April 24 when officers spotted Curtis driving a stolen car across the Severn Bridge into England.
She initially slowed down to 35mph before speeding off at up to 100mph along the M4 eastbound towards London.
Sam Jones, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing: ''What followed was a high-speed dangerous pursuit for over 30 miles lasting 20 minutes.
''They could see the person driving had a tourniquet and a syringe and was trying to inject while driving.''
Curtis, of Bonymaen, Swansea, was arrested and told police she had not stolen the car but had bought it.
No charges were brought for the stolen vehicle but she admitted driving dangerously and trying to inject heroin as part of the offence.
Georgina Buckley, defending Curtis at a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on October 15, said her client was ''extremely remorseful".
Judge David Ticehurst said: ''You are only 23 and have a dreadful record. It's depressing because you have huge potential. The only person who can decide to give up drugs is you.''
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by amazed reader, noddy land
Monday, November 02 2009, 4:40PM
“its that judge again... lol... does he hand out sentances you have to do or jus suspended ones... its over crowding, he's getting a bonus on how many he can keep on our streets to re-offend and make our lives as crap as possible, cos he dont live where we do, so it dont affect him... not sure whos worse.. the driver or the idiot judge...”
by Steve, Bristol
Saturday, October 31 2009, 4:04PM
“1. Will she be banned from driving?
2. Why was she trying to inject H going down the M4? Could she not have pulled into the services or something? I mean, I know its pretty stressful once you get past reading, but I dont think that justifies a quick beer, let alone a syringe full of Class A drugs.”
by Hedgehog, Horfield
Saturday, October 31 2009, 2:52PM
“"And Balaam tied his ass to a tree and walked into Jerusalem.", as it says in Numbers 22:21”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Saturday, October 31 2009, 2:46PM
“Dead right, Derek. Ass is English for donkey and American for ****.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Saturday, October 31 2009, 2:45PM
“Got to be nearly perfect headline, that. Pity the Post couldn't have put Royal in there somewhere, though. "Drug-crazed student in 100mph police chase towards Royal Berkshire"?”
by derek, Not in Briz
Saturday, October 31 2009, 2:25PM
“The M4 also passes Bristol Swindon Reading etc etc.What the hell has this to do with the story?”
by Grahame P, Central Bristol
Saturday, October 31 2009, 11:30AM
“So, dangerously driving a nicked car without insurance at up to 100mph while refusing to stop because you're trying to jack yourself up on heroin, doesn't get you locked up. That's quite amazing really. And when the Judge said she had a dreadful record, I expect he meant a history of offending rather than a copy of the Ketchup Song in her CD player.
Twelve months suspended. Phew. Mildly more severe than a police caution, it's the sort of deterrent that makes you proud of the judiciary.”
by Tom, Local
Saturday, October 31 2009, 11:13AM
“Those people who think that drug dealers are just rogues should read this. They are the scum responsible for this kind of thing.”
by Ian, Chipping Sodbury
Saturday, October 31 2009, 10:04AM
“Bob,what map are you referring to,Sodbury is closer to the m4 than bath, I have never heard "m4 between Bristol and Chipping Sodbury"might as well say m4 between Bristol and Tetbury?”
by colin, Kingswood
Saturday, October 31 2009, 9:57AM
“Ok then Bob,would you say the M4 from Bristol to Kingswood,Kingswood is closer to the M4 than Bath,Tormarton to Bath is some 8 miles from the Motorway.”