Driver led police on 10-mile chase at speeds of 100mph
A MOTORIST reached speeds of 100mph and crashed into a parked car during a police chase while driving with no licence or insurance.
George Price, 23, panicked after he was clocked by police driving in Pendoylan, Vale of Glamorgan, in the early hours of September 6.
He then proceeded to drive away at speed and led police on a 10-mile chase which saw him zig-zag over county borders by driving into Cardiff and back into the Vale of Glamorgan.
During the chase he drove on the wrong side of the road, ran red lights, and almost collided head-on with an HGV before he crashed his car into a parked vehicle in Cowbridge.
Upon his arrest, expectant father Price told police: “I should have just stopped. I’m so stupid.”
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, October 12, heard the defendant was first seen by police at 12.50am driving a grey BMW which he had bought the day before for £1,400.
Having seen the police car he immediately drove off and was next seen on the A48 driving towards Ely.
An officer illuminated his blue lights and signalled for Price to pull over but he accelerated to 60mph and turned into Duffryn Lane.
He proceeded to drive up to 70mph on country roads before turning onto A4050 Port Road.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said police followed the defendant onto Caerau Lane as he accelerated to 80mph and crossed a grass verge into the next carriageway near Canaston Place before traversing the pavement at Cowbridge Road West.
He then headed towards Culverhouse Cross and drove against oncoming traffic at 60mph before taking a roundabout the wrong way back onto the A48. He narrowly missed hitting an HGV head-on before travelling at least another five miles into Cowbridge where he crashed the BMW.
Price attempted to escape on foot but was arrested by police nearby. He said he panicked when he saw police as he was driving without a licence or insurance.
The defendant, of Hillfort Close, Caerau, Cardiff, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance.
In mitigation Lowri Wynn Morgan said Price now appreciated the risk he put himself and others at and had “expressed remorse”.
Ms Wynn Morgan said the defendant was responsible for three children and he is expecting a fourth child with his partner who is 12 weeks pregnant.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Fitton QC said: “You drove at excessive speed through a series of villages, drove on the wrong side of the road, and went through red lights while pursued by police and you increased your speed.
“You behaved in a staggeringly irresponsible manner.”
Price was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.