BLAZE AFTER CAR OVERTURNS
Police dragged 100mph danger driver from vehicle moments before inferno:
A MAN who drove along the A55 at speeds of up to 100mph was dragged from his overturned car by police moments before it turned into a fireball.
Richard John Kirton, of no fixed address, had driven without lights on unlit sections of the road between Llanfairfechan and Bangor.
After police used a “stinger” to deflate the vehicle’s tyres, Kirton continued and lost control after turning off the Britannia Bridge.
After flipping the car onto its roof, he refused to get out and police officers pulled him out moments before it caught fire.
The 31-year-old admitted charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to give a sample of breath when he appeared.
The charges stem from an incident at a petrol station in Northop on December 17 last year.
Kirton was said to have put £36 worth of fuel in the vehicle and made off without payment.
Police were alerted and the vehicle was spotted near the Conwy tunnel by an officer, said Ffion Tomos, prosecuting at Caernarfon crown court.
“It was at 9.25pm and the officer signalled the vehicle to stop at Conwy Morfa near junction 17. The defendant would have known the officer was using his blue lights but he ignored the request and drove on,” the lawyer said.
He ignored another request to stop near Llanfairfechan and picked up speed after switching off the headlights.
Ms Tomos said on the approach to the Britannia Bridge the vehicle was travelling at speeds of 90-100mph.
Other police officers had been alerted, the court heard, and had placed a stinger device across the road which succeeded in deflating the tyres.
“The car continued across the bridge turning off onto the slip road and the pursuit was called off. But the driver lost control and ended up on its roof.
“Officers approached and undid the seat belt but the driver refused to get out. Attempts were made to pull him out as officers feared it would catch fire. They managed to get him out just before it caught fire,” added Ms Tomos.
Taken to Caernarfon Police Station Kirton refused to give a sample of breath for analysis.
Jonathan Austin, defending, said the episode had been very distressing for Kirton’s family who had reported him missing to police that evening.
He said Kirton was suffering from a mental illness but had stopped taking medication in the time leading to the incident.
Since his arrest he had been receiving treatment at a secure unit.
Sentencing Judge Huw Rees said a hospital order without limit of time was the most appropriate way of dealing with the matter.
In addition Kirton was banned from driving for 30 months and must take an extended test before driving again.