MATTHEW BESTWICK'S HIGH-SPEED CHAOS IN MANSFIELD AND DERBYSHIRE
In December 2020, a dramatic and dangerous high-speed chase unfolded involving Matthew Bestwick, a known sex offender with ties to Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham, and Cossall.The incident began when police in Derbyshire attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Bestwick, who was fleeing from authorities after being spotted at approximately 2:05 am on August 27 of that year.
According to court reports, police activated their blue lights in an effort to pull him over, but Bestwick responded by attempting to evade them at all costs.
The pursuit lasted roughly four and a half minutes, covering nearly four miles through various streets including Mundy Street in Heanor, Wilmot Street, Church Street, Ilkeston Road, Breach Road, Mill Road, Chapel Street, and back onto Ilkeston Road.
During this frantic escape, Bestwick displayed reckless driving behavior, including speeding through red lights, taking corners at high velocity, and driving on the wrong side of the road on multiple occasions.
At one point, he reached speeds of up to 83 mph in a zone with a 40 mph speed limit, further emphasizing the dangerous nature of his flight.
The chase culminated when Bestwick lost control of his vehicle on Manor Road, crashing into a hedge.
In a desperate attempt to escape, he exited his car, jumped onto the bonnet of the pursuing police vehicle, and fled on foot.
His escape was short-lived, as he was not apprehended until a month later in Burton-on-Trent, where authorities finally arrested him.
The court heard that Bestwick, who has no fixed address, had previously been jailed in 2015 for making indecent images of children and inciting a child into sexual activity.
As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offender register for life, which mandated that he notify police of his whereabouts.
However, between December 2019 and the night of the chase, Bestwick failed to comply with these legal obligations, neglecting to inform authorities of his current residence.
Prosecutor Sarah Slater emphasized that this failure to update his details was a breach of his legal duties.
During the police pursuit, officers observed Bestwick driving a vehicle that they recognized as being under his control.
When they attempted to stop him, he initially tried to evade but eventually led them on a reckless chase through multiple streets, including Hardy Barn, Hassock Lane North and South, and Heanor Road, before entering Ilkeston.
He then made a dangerous maneuver by going the wrong way around a traffic island at the bottom of Bath Street, before heading up Manners Road and onto Manor Road.
After crashing his vehicle, Bestwick exited and ran away, with police locating him only after a month in Burton-on-Trent.
He was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including dangerous driving, driving without insurance, a valid license, and failing to stop.
Additionally, he admitted to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offender register.
Recorder Paul Mann QC sentenced Bestwick to 18 months in prison, condemning his reckless behavior.
In his remarks, the judge stated, “You treated the roads like a race track.
This is a bad case of dangerous driving, but not the highest level.
It was persistent and determined at greatly increased speeds.
You also had a passenger, and you put that person at risk as well.” Matthew Bestwick’s criminal activities and reckless conduct have been linked to various areas, including Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham, and Cossall, highlighting the widespread concern over his dangerous behavior and failure to adhere to legal obligations.
