A dangerous driver who led police on a chase through rural Oxfordshire was on a ‘path of self-destruction’, a court heard.

Morgan Scott, 23, who in 2020 was jailed for leading cops on a 35-mile chase around Swindon, was behind the wheel of an Audi TT on January 31 when he took off from the police officers after they tried to pull him over on the A361 near Shipton-under-Wychwood.

The chase lasted around seven minutes, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday (February 1).

Prosecutor Ann Sawyer-Brandish said: “That vehicle eventually came to a stop when it collides with a stone wall.”

During the pursuit the Audi hit around 85mph in a 60 zone, drove on the wrong-side of the road as it entered a bend in the road, and travelled across crossroads without giving way.

When police caught up with the crashed TT, Scott was out of the vehicle. He was found to have a small amount of white powder, later found to be cocaine.

Scott was disqualified from driving, the court heard. In 2020, he received a nine month prison sentence for dangerous driving, having led police on a 35-mile trip around Swindon and the surrounding countryside. He was subsequently convicted of driving while disqualified.

Appearing before Oxford Magistrates’ Court, Scott, of Gassons Way, Lechlade, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance and possession of cocaine.

Defending, Richard Demczak said: “It would appear Mr Scott is on a path to self-destruction.”

He added: “The essence of it all is he’s going through quite stressful issues with his ex-partner and contact with his baby son.

“In his own words, he just needs someone to help him, someone to speak to and get him back on the straight and narrow.”

The court heard he lived with his mother in Lechlade. He was a roofer by trade.

The magistrates sent the case to the crown court for sentencing, telling Scott that they did not feel their powers of punishment were sufficient to deal with the case.

He was remanded in custody until March 14, when he will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.

In December 2020, Swindon Crown Court heard that Scott had narrowly missed hitting a police officer who was trying to use a ‘stop stick’ to burst the tyres of his BMW.

In a statement read to the court, the officer PC Neil Elliot said: “Believing I was about to be run over I ran towards the opposite side of the road.” In diving for cover he grazed his knee and suffered a bruised elbow.

The judge was shown helicopter footage of the conclusion of the 35-mile chase. Scott had crashed into a bollard. He ditched the car, left his passenger behind, and fled across fields but was caught when he tripped and fell.

Jailing him at the Swindon court, Judge Peter Crabtree said: “The driving was aggressive at times and showed a total disregard for road traffic regulations.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward