Unlicensed driver smashed into police car in early morning chase

A SPEEDING driver hit a police car that had stopped in his path and carried on as he led officers on a dangerous chase in the early hours of the morning.

Brendan Chard left the officer in the vehicle with whiplash and arm and back injuries as he tore through the streets.

Chard, who was being pursued by several police vehicles with blue flashing lights and sirens, accelerated through red traffic lights and drove the wrong way around a roundabout.

Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Timothy Petts said: “This was a prolonged and persistent course of very bad driving.”

The court heard the incident occurred at about 2am on January 31 on the streets of Pyle and North Cornelly.

Eugene Egan, prosecuting, said the defendant was driving a Renault Clio when an officer on patrol in a marked police car indicated for him to pull over.

He added: “The defendant made no effort to stop.”

The court heard Chard accelerated up to 50mph in a 30mph zone and reached 70mph during the chase.

Prosecutors said he sped through a series of red traffic lights and hurtled around a roundabout in the wrong direction.

Mr Egan said a police officer positioned his car in front of the defendant’s to try to stop him, but Chard hit it and carried on.

The officer was taken to hospital, where he was treated for whiplash and injuries to his arm and lower back.

Prosecutors said the chase involved several police vehicles and lasted for about 30 minutes.

It only ended when officers used a stinger device to puncture the defendant’s tyres and then managed to “box him in”.

Chard was arrested and officers noted he smelt of cannabis. They found him to be in possession of three wraps of the Class B drug.

Gareth Morley, defending, stressed the test result was negative and did not show he was driving while under the influence of drugs.

The defendant’s record revealed he did not have a driving licence and was not insured.

In his police interview, Chard stated the cannabis was for personal use and told officers he drove the way he did because he “panicked”.

Prosecutors said he should have attended court on February 18, but absconded and was “at large” for more than a month.

The court heard he had previously been disqualified for driving carelessly without a licence or insurance.

Chard, 22, from Oakwood in Garth, Maesteg, admitted driving dangerously without a licence or insurance, failing to stop, possessing cannabis and failing to surrender to bail.

Mr Morley told the court his client did not collide with the police car intentionally or “out of malice”. He said the collision was caused by “bad driving”.

He added: “Through me, he apologises to the officer.”

The defence barrister said his client did not attend court in February because he was “burying his head in the sand”.

He added the defendant’s parents were “very concerned” about his situation and he suggested Chard could benefit from a community order.

But the judge said there were too many aggravating features in the case to impose anything other than an immediate jail term.

Judge Petts noted Chard had not passed a driving test and said: “You should not have been driving at all.”

He also observed the defendant had previously been disqualified and told him: “You had not learnt your lesson.”

In his sentencing remarks, the judge said: “When the police tried to stop you, you would not stop. They had to chase you.”

Chard was jailed for 11 months and disqualified from driving for two years from the time of his release.

He must also pass an extended test before being allowed behind the wheel.