Chesterfield dad who mounted pavements on off road bike sentenced after police chase ends in river

A Chesterfield dad and bricklayer has been sentenced after a police chase.

Adam Taylor, of Longcroft Court, Brichwood Crescent, Grangewood, appeared at Chesterfield Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 22, in connection with a number of driving and drug offences.

The court heard that Taylor, 41, was seen driving an off road motorbike in dangerous manner on Cordwell Avenue in Chesterfield on April 20.

When police on patrol tried to stop the defendant he ‘looked at the police car’ before taking off from the officers.

During the chase Taylor mounted pavements and drove at speed.

He eventually drove on grassland towards a woodland in the Dunston area in an attempt to flee from police.

But he did not notice a ‘shallow river’ and a ‘dip’ in the terrain and fell off his bike.

He was shortly apprehended by officers.

Taylor was charged with dangerous driving and driving with no insurance and pleaded guilty to both offences.

The defendant was charged with further driving offences in connection with another incident, which took place on August 20.

Officers were on patrol at Harehill Road in Chesterfield when they spotted a van driver who was wearing a cap and face covering.

Police believed the driver might be attempting to hide his identity and stopped him.

Taylor, who was disqualified from driving had borrowed the vehicle from a family member, initially provided officers with false identity details.

But system checks revealed he was a disqualified driver.

The court heard Taylor was aware of his disqualification but ‘disregarded it’.

Taylor was charged with driving while disqualified and driving without an insurance in connection with the incident.

He pleaded guilty to both offences.

Taylor was further charged with three drug offences in connection with separate incidents.

The court heard he was in possession of 0.1g of diamorphine, widely known as heroin, on December 2, 2025 in Chesterfield.

He was also found in possession of quantity of cannabis and amphetamine on September 25, 2025.

Taylor was charged with three counts of possession of drugs and pleaded guilty.

The defendant, who had a number of previous offences committed between 2003 and 2026 including drink driving, driving without a licence, driving without a valid insurance, drug offences and an incident involving a racially aggravated offence, said he was ‘aware of the gravity of his offences and took full responsibility’.

Taylor pleaded guilty at an early opportunity while his record showed he recently completed a community order for another offence and showed ‘ excellent compliance’ with probation.

Defence said that Taylor ‘has multiple children’ and would engage with relevant services and try his best to avoid a prison to help his oldest son follow his footsteps as a bricklayer.

Taylor was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

He was also handed a further 12-month disqualification, which will run consecutively.

He will have to take a compulsory extended driving test if he wants to drive a vehicle ever again.

He was given two community orders including 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was further ordered to pay a £300 in fines, £140 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

During sentencing Mrs Railton JP said: “We make this order because we believe that this is the best option for you as opposed to custodial sentence.

“If you breach this order it is more than likely that you will get a jail sentence.

“This is your last chance.

“You have an opportunity to turn around your life and I strongly suggest that you do that.”