Charlotte Shipley, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving (Image: Stoke on Trent Live)
A mother of three has been jailed after she hit a taxi during a 60mph police chase – with her baby in the front seat.
CCTV footage showed Charlotte Shipley, 29, jumping red lights and driving on a pavement, over speed bumps and on the wrong side of the road with other vehicles forced to take evasive action,
The defendant, who was high on cannabis, as reported by Stoke on Trent, only stopped when she hit a cab after ignoring a No Entry sign.
She was sentenced to 10 months in jail at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Staffordshire.
The court heard Shipley was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen when police spotted her in Hanley with a child in the front passenger seat.
Police officers followed with the lights and sirens on as she turned into a car park, before going on to drive at speeds of up to 50mph in a 30mph zone.
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Shipley drove on a pavement when a pedestrian was nearby and forced other vehicles to take evasive action.
She drove along a road with a 30mph speed limit at 60mph and then turned into a road despite it having a No Entry sign.
After hitting a taxi travelling in the opposite direction, Shipley was arrested.
Prosecutor Barry White said the dangerous driving happened on the morning of December 18, 2023.
He said when she was arrested there was a baby in the vehicle and that she tested positive for cannabis.
Shipley, of Appleford Place, Blurton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
Anis Ali, mitigating, said Shipley has managed to curtail her use of illicit substances.
He conceded the prolonged period of dangerous driving crossed the custody threshold but said there was no significant damage or any injury caused.
He asked the judge to step back from sending Shipley to prison.
But Judge Trevor Meegan said suspending the sentence was not possible.
Jailing Shipley, Judge Meegan said she made a “deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road”.
He said: “There was total disregard for the safety of other road users.
“You were impaired by drugs and were driving at speeds significantly over the limit.
“You have previous convictions for driving, including for dangerous driving. Five days before this offence you were at the magistrates’ court for driving under the influence of drugs.
“The most aggravating feature is the breathtaking disregard for the safety of your own child.”
Shipley was banned from driving for two years and five months and until she passes an extended test.