‘You know the misery you have caused to completely innocent people,’ the judge told him
15:14, 18 Feb 2026
Steven Howells performed a dangerous overtake of a grit lorry in Cwmbran(Image: Gwent Police)
A man crashed a stolen car in a high-speed police chase. Steven Howells performed a dangerous overtake of a grit lorry in Cwmbran, smashing the Citroen C3 into a wall and injuring his passenger Sam Bray.
The woman who owned the car was taking her recycling out at 8.40pm on January 13 when she noticed the vehicle was missing and called police. Cardiff Crown Court heard the car was initially stolen by Bray before his accomplice Howells got behind the wheel.
Prosecutor Mari Watkins said: “At 9.30pm a police helicopter saw the car being driven at high speed with the lights off, on the wrong side of the road.” For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.
The vehicle was spotted in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, and soon afterwards police saw the car moving at speed with Bray hanging out of the passenger window.
The officers followed the car onto Mountain Road in Upper Cwmbran where Howells, 31, dangerously overtook a grit lorry, hitting the wall of a bend.
Both men fled the car from the passenger side but were soon arrested at 10.16pm. Bray was taken to hospital with a deep gash to his elbow.
In a victim personal statement the Citroen owner said the car was badly damaged and that the incident had left her “in shock”, adding: “I don’t feel able to go into work due to the impact on my mental health.”
Howells admitted aggravated vehicle-taking with dangerous driving causing injury, driving while disqualified and with no insurance, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to provide a sample for analysis.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a suspended sentence imposed last year for burglary. The 12-month jail term was suspended for 18 months on the condition that Howells attended 100 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity days.
“He attended zero of those requirements,” said Ms Watkins. “Two of his absences were deemed acceptable and five unacceptable.”
Howells had 15 previous offences on his record including dangerous driving – which was the reason he was banned at the time of the Cwmbran police chase – as well as grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a blade in public, and affray.
His barrister Sophie Keegan said he had long struggled with crack cocaine addiction and had “felt quite lost” after his most recent prison release.
“He is entirely illiterate and was unable to reach out for support,” she said. “He was struggling under the suspended sentence order, which was compounded by complex family dynamics including not having a place to stay due to a strained relationship with his mother. He quickly slipped back into drug misuse.
“He met Mr Bray that night outside a shop and ended up entangled in Mr Bray’s misdemeanours. He was never charged with the burglary element for taking the car. It was Mr Bray driving to start with, although by the end Mr Howells was behind the wheel.”
Handing down a 26-month prison sentence, judge Vanessa Francis told Howells: “It is a matter of immense regret not just for you but for society that, because you were not able to take advantage of the help offered last time, you caused more harm. It could have been catastrophic harm, and I’m sure you are very relieved it wasn’t.
“You know the misery you have caused to completely innocent people by being involved with the taking and destruction of their property. You are 31. Something has to change but you have to be the catalyst.”
Howells gave a faint nod and muttered “I know” before being taken down to the cells. A driving ban will be in place for 12 months after his release from prison.
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