A driver travelled at four times the speed limit in a bid to evade police and reached speeds of 80mph in a 20mph zone. The chase came to an end when Sean Howells, 30, crashed his Citroën Berlingo van into one of the police cars pursuing him.
Merthyr Tydfil magistrates’ court heard an officer had been heading on the A4059 towards Mountain Ash at 4am on March 19 when his attention was drawn to Howells’ van ahead of him.
Due to it being the early hours and recent offences in the area, the officer decided to perform a routine stop, said prosecutor Mike Powell.
“The officer illuminated his lights to signal stop,” Mr Powell told the court. “However, the van increased its speed.
“The vehicle travelled at 80mph in a 40mph zone, then 60mph in a 30mph zone. It crossed a bridge to the B4275 heading towards Mountain Ash and drove through a red light.
“Heading in the general direction of Aberdare, the vehicle again reached a speed of 80mph in a built-up area with a 20mph limit.”
By this time there were two police cars in pursuit. Mr Powell said the van was “effectively coming back down the valley” when it slowed enough for officers to perform a box stop manoeuvre with one police car blocking it at the front and one behind.
“The officer in front suddenly felt a large impact from the rear as the patrol car was effectively shunted by the defendant’s vehicle. This caused the officer’s vehicle to fishtail before coming to a rest against the fencing of the A4059.”
The van also stopped a short distance away and Howells was arrested. He gave a positive reading for a controlled drug but the prosecutor said this was still under investigation at the time of the court hearing due to forensic delays in blood results.
Howells, of Bryn Awelon in Aberdare, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop for a police officer. Just last year he was fined and banned from driving for 12 months for drug-driving. The ban had ended shortly before the latest incident.
His solicitor Ross Williams said: “My client is clearly willing to engage with substance misuse support services and get back in employment. His misuse of controlled substances is the predominant factor in his offending behaviour.
“He has a six-year-old daughter and unless he stops his drug misuse he is not going to be able to have any part in her life. That is why he has demonstrated a high level of motivation to address those issues.”
Howells nodded as Presiding Justice Mary Morris described his driving as “utterly appalling”. She imposed a one-year jail term but suspended it for two years because “we do feel there is a possibility for you to be rehabilitated”.
Ms Morris also handed down a two-year driving ban, a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement, 20 days of rehabilitation activity, 150 hours of unpaid work, a £187 victim services surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
