Essex driver jailed after 115mph police pursuit tracked by helicopter
Alan McDonnell sentenced to a year in prison after high-speed chase
Alan McDonnell, 29, has been jailed for a year following a high-speed chase where he reached speeds of up to 115mph, tracked by Essex Police with the assistance of a helicopter.
On 19th December 2025, McDonnell was pursued after a Roads Policing officer spotted his grey Audi A4, flagged as uninsured, in Basildon.
Despite initially stopping, McDonnell sped off, driving dangerously through Basildon, joining the A13, and reaching 115mph, undertaking vehicles and driving recklessly.
After leaving the A13, he drove the wrong way along a slip road and abandoned his car on Cook Road, Dagenham, fleeing on foot.
Essex Police worked with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) to track McDonnell using thermal imaging and arrested him as he lay on the ground.
At Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 5th October, McDonnell was jailed and banned from driving for three years and four months, requiring an extended test before regaining his licence.
Adam Pipe from the Roads Policing Unit said: “This case shows the lengths some drivers will go to in an attempt to avoid us, but it also demonstrates the resources and tactics we have available to keep our roads safe.
“Working alongside our colleagues at NPAS meant we were able to continue tracking McDonnell even after he abandoned the car and tried to run away.
“Our message is simple: if you choose to put other road users at risk, we will do everything we can to stop you.”