Danger-driver finally in court... after two years
A DANGEROUS driver who led police on a high-speed chase while drunk, then didn’t turn up to court, was not arrested for two years – despite continuing to live at home.
During the time a warrant was out for his arrest Jason Razey started a new relationship, became a father, got a job, and kicked his drug habit.
The 38-year-old “panicked” and skipped court – where he was due to be jailed – in 2016, prompting a warrant to be issued for his arrest.
Yesterday a court heard that warrant was finally executed on October 7 this year – with Razey caught at his family home address, which was known to police.
Razey was chased by an unmarked police car in Cardiff in the early hours of August 27, 2016, when he failed to stop while driving over roundabouts, crossing junctions, and going through red lights at speed.
When the defendant was stopped he was discovered to be over the drinkdriving limit and driving without a full licence or insurance.
It was recommended that Razey was given an immediate jail term, but on the day of his sentencing he failed to turn up and an arrest warrant was issued. He was not discovered for the next two years but was eventually arrested at his family home in Hiles Road, Ely, earlier this month.
Prosecutor Lowri Wynn Morgan told Cardiff Crown Court the police had not given an explanation as to why the arrest warrant had not been executed at an earlier date, with their only statement on the subject saying: “The warrant was executed on October 7.”
Describing the dangerous driving incident, Ms Wynn Morgan said: “[An officer] saw the defendant driving a Honda Accord along Cowbridge Road West, in Ely, [while] in an unmarked police car on the opposite side of the road. It had a low-hanging exhaust touching the road, causing sparks.
“He turned the vehicle round to speak to the driver but the defendant increased his speed, so the officer requested the defendant to stop but he continued to accelerate.
“He continued to drive with the police vehicle behind him straight over the Grand Avenue junction, and made no attempt to slow down or look for oncoming traffic. As he approached the roundabout on Archer Road he drove up on to the grass and continued on to Pethybridge Road.
“He was driving at 50mph and speed bumps caused the exhaust to fly off, narrowly missing the police vehicle. He drove over another roundabout onto Wilson Road, and as he approached the junction with Grand Avenue the traffic-lights were red but he drove through the junction.”
Due to the damage to the car the Honda reduced speed and eventually came to a halt in Grand Avenue, where Razey was arrested. He was later found to have 70mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – more than twice the drinkdrive limit.
He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink-driving, failing to stop, driving without a full licence, and driving without insurance. He has also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender following his 2018 arrest.
In mitigation, defence barrister Ruth Smith said even though her client, who appeared via video link from HMP Cardiff, had evaded justice for two years he had turned his life around during that period, having not reoffended, and was no longer the same person he was in 2016.
Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Razey, of Hiles Road, Ely, Cardiff, to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and he was ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work and rehabilitation activity requirement of 19 days. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.