Banned driver hit 110mph in police chase
A SERIAL disqualified driver drove in excess of 100mph during a number of police chases and crashed into a central reservation as officers tried to box him in.
On another occasion he was found to be under the influence of cocaine while driving.
Leon John, 32, of Caerphilly, drove dangerously several times on roads in south Wales and his attempts to avoid police were caught on dash cam footage.
He also failed to provide blood samples due to fear of needles, claiming to officers “I don’t drink or do drugs”.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the most serious of John’s driving offences took place on July 7 when he was spotted driving a Ford Fiesta with false number plates at 3.10am.
He was seen travelling onto the A470 towards Cardiff but upon reaching the Coryton roundabout, he changed direction and headed back towards Merthyr Tydfil.
As the defendant approached the exit for Radyr, the police activated their blue lights and tried to box him in but he pulled out and attempted to push the police car out of the way.
He tried to flee by pulling out in front of a second police car and collided with the front of the vehicle and sent both cars hurtling towards the central reservation and crashing into a steel barrier.
John was arrested and was found to be a disqualified driver. One of the police officers involved in the chase suffered whiplash as a result of the collision.
An earlier incident took place on February 15 when the defendant wrote off a Volkswagen Golf after crashing into a wall in St Mellons Road, Marshfield.
He initially gave a false name and date of birth to police but his true identity was later revealed. He was also found to have false plates and was disqualified. Upon being arrested, John said: “I’m sorry.”
John was also involved in another police chase at around 4am on October 31 last year which began in the Machen area of Caerphilly.
He was initially spotted by police driving a BMW 118 on the wrong side of the road and entering a no entry area. Police activated their blue lights but the defendant sped up to 70mph in a 30mph zone.
Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins said John passed through a number of red lights before entering the M4 where he reached speeds of 110mph in heavy rain.
He left at junction 32 for the Coryton roundabout but despite efforts to block him he carried on driving at speed onto the A470.
A stinger device was used as John passed Pontypridd and punctured his tires but he carried on driving at 50mph and by the time he reached Abercynon he was driving on the rim of his wheels.
Officers boxed the defendant in and he reversed into a police car.
A taser was drawn and John complied with his arrest.
He was found to have cocaine and a by-product of cocaine in his system and was found to be disqualified.
John, of Hartshorn Court, Lansbury Park, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen, three counts of driving whilst disqualified and without insurance, two counts of failing to stop, drug driving and driving with false number plates.
The court heard he had 34 previous convictions including a number of driving offences.
In mitigation, the court was told John has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which would cause him difficulties in prison.
It was conceded an immediate custodial sentence in his case was inevitable.
Recorder Victoria Hillier sentenced John to a total of 26 months imprisonment.
He was also disqualified from driving for a total of six years.