Driver sped away from cops at 80mph in town

A DISQUALIFIED driver sped off from police and reached speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone after already telling them his name.

He escaped justice for months after fleeing the police chase

Anthony Ward, 39, was caught driving illegally in Barry at 1.05am on October 31, 2020.

He initially stopped his blue Audi Q2 in Pontypridd Road and told an officer his name was Anthony before starting the engine and driving off.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard Ward went through red lights and drove on the opposite side of the road to lose the pursuing police car.

He eventually escaped after the officers lost his vehicle and it wasn’t until February 2021, that he was arrested when police attended his home.

During his police interview, Ward denied being the driver of the car.

But the defendant, of Seager Drive, Grangetown, Cardiff, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop and driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Talia Keskin said Ward was disqualified from driving a month before the offence.

He also had previous convictions for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, drink driving and driving without a licence.

In mitigation, Cat Jones said her client had foolishly gone for a drive that night to “clear his head” due to the breakdown of his marriage and the fact his mother was being treated for cancer.

She also described how his family background was one of “violence, drug abuse and anxiety” and he was living on the streets at the age of 12.

Sentencing, Recorder David Elias QC said: “Your driving was determined in the way you were determined to get away from the police officers.

“You drove at greatly excessive speeds for road conditions and you drove through red traffic lights on the wrong side of the road.

“It’s only because it was the early hours of the morning people were not injured and damage was not caused to other vehicles.”

Ward was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and was disqualified from driving for three years.