A disqualified driver who sped through Stone, including travelling the wrong way around Walton roundabout and along a one way street, has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Wayne Shepherd, 31, of Stone, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 24 September after admitting driving whilst unfit through drugs, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without third party insurance.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a £187 surcharge.
Shepherd was also disqualified from driving for a further two years, with the ban dating from an interim disqualification imposed on 20 May 2026.
Staffordshire Police said officers from its road crime team spotted Shepherd driving a BMW on the A34 in October 2025 and asked him to stop after noticing that he was driving erratically.
Police said Shepherd initially pulled over, but accelerated away as officers began getting out of their vehicle.
He then weaved through traffic, travelled the wrong way around Walton roundabout and drove down the wrong side of a one way street in Stone.
Officers abandoned the pursuit because of the risk involved.
The BMW was later found on St Georges Road, while Shepherd was located on Lichfield Street and arrested.
Police said Shepherd only held a provisional licence at the time, had no insurance and was already disqualified from driving until he passed an extended retest.
Staffordshire Police also said testing following his arrest showed cannabis at more than three times the legal limit.
PC James Baker, from the force’s road crime team, said
“Shepherd’s actions on this day were incredibly reckless and selfish, especially with so many people and young children about at the time he decided to chance his luck and escape us.
“Whilst we are trained to the highest standard when it comes to pursuits, we always put the safety of the public at the forefront of everything we do, which is why we had to abandon our pursuit of Shepherd and focus on resolving the incident as safely as possible.
“It is lucky that he didn’t cause serious harm to others and himself with his manner of driving.”
