Drink-drive hotel boss in 110mph police chase on country roads

A HOTEL manager drove at speeds of up to 110mph on country roads in wet conditions while being chased by police.

Darren Martin Williams took a Ford Kuga without permission from his employer’s hotel in Capel Curig and drove for more than 20 miles to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Police used a Stinger device to puncture the tyres of the vehicle at Dolwyddelan and bring the high speed pursuit to an end.

His passenger Victor Cebula, a chef at the same hotel, jumped out of the car moments earlier and suffered a serious head injury and was treated at a specialist trauma unit at Stoke hospital.

Williams, 27, of Manod Road, Blaenau Ffestiniog, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving when he appeared at Llandudno Magistrates and was at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday for sentence.

The dad-of-one also admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking when damage was caused, drink-driving and driving without insurance.

Jailing him for 12 months, Judge Huw Rees said he had behaved “recklessly and foolishly” for a prolonged period.

“How someone did not suffer serious injury or death is no thanks to you,” he added.

He banned Williams from driving for 42 months and ordered he take an extended retest.

Ryan Rothwell, prosecuting, said just before midnight on February 5 Neil Roberts, owner of the Bryn Tyrch hotel, saw his vehicle being driven away from the hotel and alerted police.

The vehicle was seen by police near Dolwyddelan and after seeing the vehicle being driven erratically through the village at speeds of 40-50mph signalled it to