Crash driver caught by airbag DNA
A DRIVER who hit a van, ran away and told police his car was stolen was caught when his DNA was found on the airbag.
John Parfitt fled the scene after crashing his Volkswagen Passat into a Ford Transit van on the opposite side of the road then lied to the police about what happened.
Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Nicola Jones said: “It was clearly a very unsophisticated attempt by you. You were seemingly making this up as you went along.”
The court heard Gwent Police were called to the incident in Newbridge, Caerphilly, just after 11pm on August 16 last year.
Rachel Knight, prosecuting, said the force of the crash triggered Parfitt’s airbag but he ran away, leaving his car blocking the road.
Officers checked the Police National Computer to find out who the car belonged to and went to the defendant’s address in Crumlin, but he was not there.
Prosecutors said he rang Gwent Police the next day to report his car stolen and described the conversation as “a fourminute call of lies”.
Ms Knight said: “He had not fully thought through what he was telling the police. He was trying to make it up on the spot.”
The court heard the call handler asked him questions and his account was full of contradictions and inconsistencies.
Police took a DNA swab from saliva found on the airbag and it matched the defendant’s DNA. He was asked to attend
Ystrad Mynach police station for an interview.
Parfitt told officers a cat had run into the road, causing him to swerve and hit the parked van. He stated he panicked, as he had never been in a collision before, and ran to a friend’s house.
The defendant claimed he had a drink while he was there and his friends persuaded him the best thing to do would be to report the car stolen.
Ms Knight pointed out he would have been breathalysed at the scene so had a “motive to flee”.
Parfitt accepted his actions amounted to perverting the course of justice and stated he was not driving under the influence of alcohol.
Prosecutors said he had seven previous offences on his record, including possessing drugs and driving without a licence or insurance.
Parfitt, 38, from Lower Viaduct Terrace in Crumlin, admitted failing to stop and report an incident and perverting the course of justice.
Jeffrey Jones, defending, said it was not enough for the Crown to have “a suspicion” he was driving with excess alcohol and he should not be sentenced on that basis. He told the court the defendant’s car was a write-off and he could not claim on insurance after lying.
Mr Jones said Parfitt received a commendation three years ago for helping a police officer who was being attacked.
Judge Jones gave Parfitt an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, plus 15 days of rehabilitation. He was disqualified from driving for a year and must pay £300 towards prosecution costs.