A DANGEROUS driver caught by Essex Police Dog Kaiser following a high-speed police pursuit along the A13 has been jailed for 14 months.
Michael Burke, 24, drove at speeds of more than 100mph into London, sometimes on the wrong carriageway, before he abandoned his car and PD Kaiser located him cowering in swampy grassland by the roadside.
Burke had previously admitted at Colchester Magistrates’ Court to driving dangerously on the A13, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance on 14 January 2025.
And on 15 May, he was jailed for a total of 14 months at Basildon Crown Court. He was also banned from driving for five years and four months and ordered to take an extended re-test before he can get behind the wheel of a vehicle again.
Sentencing him, the judge told Burke his record showed a ‘disregard’ for motoring laws, with similar offences committed in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Investigating officer PC Niall Barrett, of Grays Local Policing Team, said after the hearing: “Burke gave no thought to the safety of those motorists whose lives he endangered that night.
“Fortunately, he was spotted by our officers who kept Burke safely in sight until he felt he had no choice other than to try to evade capture on foot. But he didn’t reckon on Police Dog Kaiser being there when he did so.
“Burke should not have been driving as he had been disqualified from driving for 13 months last August for a similar offence but, clearly, he didn’t learn his lesson.
“However, he has now been jailed and our roads are safer for that.”
The court heard the car Burke was driving had been reported as being involved in a series of incidents across the Thurrock district when it was spotted by an Essex Police dog-handler travelling at more than 100mph on the A13 near its M25 junction at North Stifford.
Burke, of Horseman Side, Navestock, near Brentwood, failed to stop and continued driving at high speed, undertaking vehicles and moving between lanes.
After evading two officers in an unmarked car as he attempted to exit the A13 at Wennington, Burke re-entered the junction using the off-slip and continued driving towards London, on the wrong side of the carriageway.
The dog-handler had sited his vehicle further along the A13 at Ferry Lane, Rainham, waiting for Burke to pass. Although Burke was now on the correct carriageway, he was still travelling at more than 100mph and the officer was authorised to start a pursuit.
Soon afterwards, Burke stopped, jumped out of his car and attempted to run away. But Police Dog Kaiser immediately got on his trail and Burke was quickly arrested.
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Always ring 999 if it is an emergency or a crime in progress.
