Asylum seeker in Audi led police on 90mph chase in Carlisle

Officers on the M6 northbound activated blue lights and their siren after spotting an Audi A4 close to the city just before 10am on Saturday, February 17.

Their attention was drawn to the manner of driving of the man behind the wheel, Francesko Ago.

Ago, 24, sped on and left the motorway at Junction 42, travelling at 70mph within a 50mph zone approaching London Road.

“He accelerated into the city limits at 90mph where it is restricted to 30mph,” prosecutor Brendan Burke told Carlisle Crown Court. “He was overtaking vehicles, including one on a blind summit, which he took at 70mph.

“Pedestrians were around. Overtaking manoeuvres forced other road users to take avoiding action. He entered Mallyclose Drive at such speed that he lost control and crashed into a road sign and a garden wall.

“He then made off on foot, and was chased and caught on London Road. As he had crashed, a male and female — dog walkers — had to jump out of the way and a woman with a pram was seen by pursuing officers to be metres away from the collision site.

The damaged road sign and the abandoned vehicle (Image: Supplied)

“The pursuit lasted three minutes in total. When the car was searched, 10.5kg of cannabis, worth about £105,000 in total, was discovered.”

Ago, of Bridport Terrace, Lambeth, London, admitted four offences: dangerous driving, possessing cannabis with intent to supply, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Defence lawyer, Jeffrey Shine, said Albanian asylum seeker Ago had been a drug “runner” who was “stretched financially” but did not have a substance habit to fund.

“He was desperate for money,” said Mr Shine. “He was offered £500 to carry these drugs. He says he has no knowledge of anyone else in this chain of drug supply.

“He accepts he wasn’t coerced to do this. There was no one pressuring him. He did it solely as a result of his own financial pressures.”

Ago was given a 14-month prison sentence by Recorder Julian Shaw.

The judge told him: “You drove into the city of Carlisle at 9.40am on a Saturday morning where the streets would have been reasonably full of other road users and — as the police observed during a terrifying chase through the city streets — pedestrians; pedestrians including young children, adults, elderly and people pushing prams.

“That you didn’t kill anyone is a mercy and, to an extent, almost a miracle,” added Recorder Shaw.

“The pursuit only ended because you lost control of the Audi and crashed it. You crashed it yards from pedestrians for whom, but for the grace of God, would have had horrendous injuries caused.”

Ago must serve a 30-month driving ban when released from custody, and pass an extended re-test. He was said to be in the UK illegally having absconded from Home Office arrangements relating to an asylum application.