Joyrider Hits 110mph in Mum’s Mercedes During Dangerous Police Chase – But Skates Jail
Speed Demon Terence Ward’s Reckless Ride
Terence Ward, 24, from King Henry’s Drive, New Addington, turned heads and sparked a police hunt after blasting through a red light in his mum’s grey Mercedes in the early hours of March 31, 2024. What followed was a heart-stopping chase through Beckenham and West Wickham, where Ward smashed through 30mph zones at speeds hitting 90mph by the Chinese Garage roundabout and a terrifying 110mph on Wickham Way.
High-Speed Mayhem Ends in Crash
Police spotted the Mercedes at 3.22am, immediately kicking off a pursuit as Ward refused to stop. Despite having no driving licence or insurance, he raced through red lights and took sharp bends at breakneck speed before finally losing control and crashing into a bollard on Red Lodge Road with the airbag deployed.
“The car was doing speeds of up to 90mph and continued towards the Chinese Garage roundabout,” prosecutor Mr Gold told Croydon Crown Court.
“He then went round a blind corner and crashed. When officers found the car, he was inside with the airbag deployed, having crashed into a pillar.”
‘I Couldn’t Sleep’ – The Excuse of a Young Joyrider
When arrested, Ward claimed he’d taken the car without permission simply because he couldn’t sleep. He admitted to trying to avoid police because he was driving unlicensed and uninsured. Despite a history of driving offences, he’s since taken a job at a road works company and made efforts to turn his life around.
Awful Driving, Lucky Escape – Suspended Sentence Delivered
Judge Elizabeth Smaller didn’t pull any punches, condemning Ward’s driving as “awful” and warning him:
“You were lucky you weren’t hurt and you were very lucky no one else was hurt.”
Despite the danger, Ward avoided jail. The judge handed down a one-year prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified him from driving for a year.
The Verdict
- One year custody, suspended for 12 months
- 12-month driving disqualification
