Wrexham man who drove after his partner crashed into her car

Thomas Cash said he wanted to overtake and stop her, but he misjudged it and struck a traffic island.

His car struck her car, hit a lamp-post and then the car bounced back and struck her car again.

Cash told how he got a taxi home and went to bed.

His judgement might have been affected by drink but he denied that at the time he would have been over the limit.

Cash, 24, of Southsea Stables, Southsea, admitted dangerous driving on April 5 and assaulting his wife Kate during an earlier incident.

He received a nine month prison sentence suspended for two years, was ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and he was placed on rehabilitation.

He was banned from driving for two years and was ordered to take an extended driving test.

The judge, Mr Nicholas Gareth Jones, told Mold Crown Court that when he first read the papers in the case he took the view that he would have to go straight to prison.

But his partner had written to say that he was a good father to their three children, he had a good work record and was working abroad in the construction industry to support his family.

The judge said he had a disagreement with his wife in the pub, she left and he followed.

He assaulted her through the car window by pushing her face.

She drove off and he should have left it at that, he said.

But Cash followed, chasing her in another car and there were suggestions that he was constantly ringing her phone.

She did not stop, he overtook her, and he hit the rear and side of the car causing damage to both vehicles.

“Fortunately there were no injuries to her or to yourself,” he said.

The judge said he had read that about a year before the incident there had been a family tragedy.

“It maybe that you were still affected by that, but that does not excuse your behaviour,” he said.

He had a previous conviction for dangerous driving following a police chase.

Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said the victim turned up at Wrexham police station in a badly damaged car and explained what had happened.

Officers found Cash’s car also damaged, which was parked diagonally across a pavement.

The engine was still running, a tyre had come off the rim and there were skid marks in the road.

Officers went to his home and in interview he made full admissions.

He said they argued in a pub and left in the early hours, they had some drinks in a caravan and he accepted that during an argument he put his arm through a window, grabbed her face and pushed her back.

She left in the car with her female friend and he followed to locate her.

He said he wanted her to come back because she had responsibilities and should not have been out.

Cash said he wanted to stop the vehicle and told how he reached 70mph at one stage.

He intended to overtake her but misjudged matters, struck an island on a bridge over the A483 and then the collision occurred.

Cash admitted dangerous driving in his interview but alleged Mrs Cash had been driving dangerously too.

Henry Hills, defending, asked for a suspended sentence.

He said Cash’s behaviour was an aberration but a letter from his wife showed that she was supportive and described it as out of character.

Mr Hills said there was no pattern of domestic violence, he was a committed family man who was remorseful for what he had done, and had a strong work ethic.

He was currently working in the construction industry in Sweden and his family would lose out if he was incarcerated.

Mr Hills said: “He understands he needs to get a hold of his emotions and the probation service say they can work with him.”