DRIVER JAILED AFTER CHASE
CAR DRIVEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF DUAL CARRIAGEWAY IN ESCAPE BID:
A YOUNG driver drove down the wrong side of a dual carriageway as he tried to get away from police who had pulled him over, a court has heard.
Teejay Amos Edwards was at the wheel of his dad’s Range Rover – which he was not insured to drive – during a pursuit that lasted almost five miles.
The chase eventually came to an end after officers deployed a “stinger” device, which punctured the vehicle’s tyres.
Sending the 21-year-old to prison, a judge said rather than just facing up to the no-insurance matter at the roadside the defendant had embarked on an “appalling” piece of dangerous driving “for kicks”.
Swansea Crown Court heard that at around 10pm on May 13 this year police in the Penlan area of the city pulled over the Range Rover being driven by Edwards to conduct checks.
Danielle Lodwig, prosecuting, said as the officer was talking to the driver of the SUV he drove off “at speed”. The officer followed the Range Rover to Pentregethin Road before losing sight of the vehicle, and the police helicopter was called in to help with the search.
The court heard the Range Rover was later spotted in the Fforestfach area and a pursuit followed.
Miss Lodwig said Edwards drove down the wrong side of the Carmarthen Road dual carriageway towards Swansea city centre in the face of oncoming traffic for a distance of around one and a half miles.
At Fforestfach Cross the Range Rover turned right and made for Cockett, before turning right again at the Cockett Inn and heading along Waunarlwydd Road.
During the pursuit the police helicopter overhead was able to direct the pursuing police vehicles and help co-ordinate the use of the “stinger” tyrebursting device.
The Range Rover continued at speed along the narrow and twisting country lane until officers lying in wait at Gypsy Cross deployed the stinger.
The court heard that despite all four tyres on the vehicle being deflated Edwards drove on along Ystrad Road before coming to a stop and being arrested.
Miss Lodwig said his cautioned reply to officers was: “It’s my father’s car – it’s not insured for me.”
Edwards, of Brynhyfryd, Llangennech, Llanelli, admitted dangerous driving and driving with no insurance. The court heard he has previous convictions from April 2019 relating to an incident in the car park of a Home Bargains shop when he had driven at a former partner following a row.
Tom Scapens, for Edwards, said the defendant was remorseful, not for himself, but for the risk he had caused other people, and said he had offended “not just against the community but also against his own family.”
The barrister described the other person sitting alongside the defendant in the Range Rover as an “unsavoury individual” and said Edwards found himself in the position he did through his own “poor judgement and immaturity”.
Judge Paul Thomas QC told the defendant that instead of accepting what was going to happen when the police pulled him over he had engaged in a highspeed chase “no doubt for the kicks”. The judge described Edwards’ driving as “absolutely appalling”.
The judge told the defendant: “You weren’t giving any consideration to any other road users.”
Giving Edwards credit for his guilty pleas, the judge sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison. The defendant will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.
Edwards was banned from driving for two years, and must pass an extended test before he can get his licence back.