Man jailed and given lengthy driving ban following pursuit in Salisbury

A man who led police on a dangerous pursuit through Salisbury has been jailed and given a lengthy driving ban.

Ricky Lee Langford, 35, of Rotherham, was sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates Court on January 19 after pleading guilty to failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without a licence and insurance.

He was jailed for six months and disqualified from driving for 49 months.

On August 24, 2023, a Roads Policing officer spotted an Audi A3 believed to be on cloned plates being driven through Salisbury. He attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver – Langford – reversed back and failed to stop for police, resulting in a pursuit.

Langford drove through red lights, hit multiple kerbs and drove the wrong way round a roundabout.

He eventually crashed his vehicle along a country lane and then attempted to run from officers but was detained.

PC Ben Greening, from our Roads Policing Unit, said: “At one point during the pursuit, Langford went round a right-hand bend on a national speed limit road contravening solid white lines, making this a high risk pursuit. He showed absolutely no regard for other road users and only stopped the vehicle when he did because he lost control and crashed into a hedge.

“Further enquiries showed Langford was wanted in South Yorkshire on recall to prison - he was clearly intent on doing anything in his power to evade police.

“Langford committed multiple Fatal Five offences during this pursuit – these are the driving offences which are most likely to cause serious or fatal collisions on our roads. The risks he took were extremely dangerous and it is fortunate that nobody was injured or worse, killed, as a result of his mindless and selfish actions. I welcome the custodial sentence and four year disqualification. We do not want individuals like this on our roads and will do all that we can to target people like Langford."