‘Drunken lunatic’ drove wrong way down dual carriageway

AMOTORIST acting like a “drunken lunatic” put people’s lives at risk by driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway in Cardiff.

Russell Crowe accelerated away and drove through a red traffic light at a busy junction when a police officer turned on his blue flashing lights.

Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Michael Fitton QC noted the defendant had a “terrible record”.

The court heard the incident happened just before 1.10am on October 30 last year.

Suzanne Payne, prosecuting, said the officer was on duty in City Road when he saw a Nissan X-Trail parked up with lights on.

The driver had been reported as intoxicated.

The officer turned on his blue flashing lights but Crowe did not stop, instead driving off along Newport Road, Glossop Road, Meteor Street, Moira Place and Fitzalan Road.

Prosecutors said he went straight through a red light at the junction between City Road and Newport Road, reaching 50mph in a 30mph zone.

Ms Payne told the court the defendant drove the wrong way down Fitzalan Place before swerving back on to the correct side of the road.

The court heard the officer stopped the car and approached the driver, who had a provisional licence and was alone in the car.

He made no reply to the caution when he was arrested and was taken to Cardiff Bay Police Station, where a breath test revealed he had 56mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Crowe, 27, from Penlline Road in Whitchurch, admitted driving dangerously while under the influence of alcohol, failing to stop, and driving without a licence or insurance.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said his client lived with a friend who was a doctor and encouraged him to get mental health support. He is waiting for counselling.

He added his client, a carer, was

“intelligent and articulate”.

Judge Fitton told the defendant he put people’s lives at risk by acting like a “drunken lunatic” but noted the “outstanding” letters of reference.

He gave Crowe a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered him to complete 180 hours of unpaid work plus five days of a rehabilitation requirement.

Crowe was disqualified from driving for two years and will have to pass an extended re-test.

He was ordered to pay £420 in costs and a £149 victim surcharge.