A man who led police on a high-speed chase to escape outstanding warrants was remanded into custody this morning.

Vincent Richardson, 34, of Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to charges of driving dangerously and wilfully damaging six traffic cones, each valued at $300.

The court heard that at around 1am on Sunday, officers were on mobile patrol on Elliot Street when they saw Richardson driving a car north on Princess Street at a high rate of speed.

The officers followed the vehicle for a period before signalling it to stop while on Ewing Street.

While Richardson stopped the car near a junction with Court Street, he sped off as police began to exit their vehicle, launching a high-speed chase.

Police then followed Richardson on a prolonged chase through North Hamilton, Pembroke and Devonshire. During the chase, Richardson was repeatedly seen driving in the oncoming lane, forcing other motorists to take evasive action, and on at least one occasion travelled the wrong way on a one-way street.

As the chase passed through the Blackwatch Pass roundabout, Richardson was seen to run over several traffic cones, one of which remained lodged in the vehicle for a period, coming loose when the chase continued along Vesey Street.

Richardson was finally stopped on Store Hill after police officers blocked both lanes with their vehicles.

The defendant told police: “I knew I had warrants. I didn’t want to go to jail.”

The court heard that Richardson had warrants in connection to several matters dating back to 2008. While he pleaded guilty to some of the outstanding matters, including speeding and driving without a licence, he denied several others such as violently resisting arrest and the theft of $13 of food.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo fined Richardson $1,000 for dangerous driving, banning him from the road for 18 months, and ordered that he pay $1,800 in restitution for the damaged traffic cones.

He also remanded Richardson into custody until Friday, when the 2008 matters will be mentioned.

While Richardson asked for bail, Mr Tokunbo responded. “You don’t come to court. And look what you do. You drive like a raving maniac. Why? Because you have warrants. No, you’re not getting bail.”

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