Rugby star jailed after being Tasered six times following high-speed chase

Rugby star jailed after being Tasered six times following high-speed chase

A rugby player who fought off police officers for nearly an hour despite being Tasered six times has been jailed for 23 months.

Former rugby league star Scott Moore, was repeatedly hit with the 50,000 volt stun gun.

But the 30-year-old, whose playing career was chequered with indiscipline, repeatedly got back to his feet to charge at police, Bolton Crown Court was told.

And as the 15 stone, 5ft 10ins hooker, fought them off he managed to grab the Taser, pointing it in the face of one officer, snarling: “You’re getting it now!”

The terrified officer fought with Moore to release it from his hand and another officer struck him numerous times.

He eventually dropped the stun gun and following a further struggle, Moore, capped twice by England during a career including stints with Castleford Tigers, Huddersfield Giants, and the London Broncos, was finally detained.

The defendant, of Ranworth Drive, Lowton, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and three counts of assault.

He was jailed for one year and 11 months on Tuesday and disqualified from driving for two years.

The court heard at around 3.55am on October 15, 2016, two officers from Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle, driving along Chaddock Lane towards Boothstown.

They then saw a black Mercedes travelling towards them at speed, heading onto the A580 East Lancashire Road, in the direction of Liverpool, and instructed it to pull over.

Instead of coming to a halt, the Mercedes accelerated and sped off in the direction of Leigh, sparking a pursuit.

Dashcam footage from the police vehicle captured the Mercedes overtaking a lorry at around 100mph on a stretch of roadworks – which had a speed limit of 30mph – before continuing to accelerate along the A580 at speeds of more than 150mph.

Moore then sped into a housing estate in Leigh, collided with the wall of a house, causing extensive damage to both the wall and vehicle.

The pursuit continued until it reached a dead end on Arrow Street but as one officer went to arrest the suspect, Moore elbowed him and he ran off.

Officers caught up with Moore but he resisted arrest for almost an hour, fighting them off until they were eventually able to handcuff him.

Outside court Detective Constable Lynsey Watson-Perry, of GMP’s Wigan borough, said: “In all their careers, the officers at the scene had never been so scared nor witnessed such a violent individual that had so much strength to fight”

“Moore knew exactly what he was doing, using his size and experience on the rugby field to evade officers in a desperate struggle that threatened both the safety of officers and innocent members of the public.

“Whatever level of force he is used to displaying on the pitch, this was not a game – people’s lives were in danger and an officer had to undergo surgery.

“I am satisfied that now Moore has been taken away from the society he posed a threat to, he is facing the consequences of his crimes.”

Moore last played for the Bradford Bulls before being released at the end of last season.

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