Man jailed for leaving his friend to die after high speed police chase

A man who abandoned his friend and left him to die after a police car chase has been jailed.

Mark McCormack, 30, has been sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of Declan Blackburne, 21, by dangerous driving. He has also been disqualified from driving for eight years.

Mr Blackburne died after a police chase in the early hours of Thursday, November 24, 2016. An unmarked police car began following McCormack after spotting him driving at high speed on Bird Hall Lane, Cheadle Heath.

The officer turned on the blue lights, instructing McCormack to pull over, before he turned into the car park of the Micklebrook Pub.

After circling the car park, McCormack accelerated and turned onto Councillor Lane before reaching speeds of more than 80mph to try and get away from police.

McCormack lost control of his car, flipping off the road and hitting a lamp post, telephone junction box and a wooden telegraph pole, breaking them all in half.

As the car stopped he jumped out and ran away, leaving Declan Blackburne in the car with severe injuries. He was taken to hospital and died on December 6.

McCormack handed himself in to police and was found to have traces of cannabis, cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.