Uninsured driver jailed for causing police chase
MOTORIST WENT DOUBLE SPEED LIMIT, AND WRONG WAY ON ROUNDABOUT
AMOTORIST who drove the wrong way around a roundabout and hit “grossly excessive” speeds during a police chase has been jailed for six months.
Officers gave up the night-time pursuit in the rain of Steven Connor because of the risk to other motorists, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
Police had seen a Ford Focus driven erratically by the uninsured provisional licence holder and stall at a junction on the A487 near Criccieth, Gwynedd on March 1.
The car reached twice the 30mph speed limit at Pentrefelin and police could not catch up with the vehicle despite reaching speeds of more than 90mph, the court heard.
Connor , 23, of Meadow Drive, Porthmadog, admitted dangerous driving.
Richard Edwards, defending, agreed there was “poor” driving, but said there had been no overtaking on blind bends.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told Connor he deliberately took risks to avoid being stopped.
“The officers suspected you would have been under the influence of drink or drugs,” the judge said.
“We will never know because you managed to make good your escape.”
It was a protracted episode of bad driving, Judge Rowlands said.
“Traffic was light that evening but there were other road users about. It’s only by really good fortune they were not being placed at risk of serious injury or worse.”
Courts had to be seen to be taking a stance to deter other dangerous drivers.
“This matter is too serious to be dealt with by anything other than an immediate custodial sentence,” Judge Rowlands added.
A 21-month driving ban was imposed, after which Connor will have to pass an extended test before he is licensed to drive.