A PREGNANT woman who escaped police after a chase has been jailed after a string of driving offences.

Hayley Rebecca Williams, 22, of Corwen Road, Pontybodkin, Mold, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison after admitting to driving while banned, and failing to stop for police.

Jim Neary, prosecuting, told Wrexham Magistrates Court that Williams, a former children’s nursery worker, had previously received a number of driving bans and was subject to a suspended sentence.

He said that on March 6 a police officer on duty saw a parked vehicle on the A541 in Pontblyddyn and recognised Williams as the driver of the car, and gave chase when she drove off.

Mr Neary said: “He checked that she was disqualified, turned and saw her driving back towards Leeswood.

”He activated the blue lights and sirens and as they turned off towards Constitution Hill she failed to stop.

”The officer gave chase but the vehicle was obviously not going to stop and he lost sight of the car in Treuddyn.”

Mr Neary added that on the afternoon of the same day, a detective constable driving along Prince Charles Road in Caia Park, Wrexham, saw the vehicle in Queensway making a turn into Y Wern.

The officer made checks about what happened in the morning in Flintshire, and Williams’s disqualifications, and she admitted she was banned from driving until September.

Bethan Jones, defending, pleaded with magistrates not to send Williams to jail, adding that her baby was due at the end of November.

She said: “A couple of years ago she suffered traumatic events that led to a nervous breakdown and she was diagnosed with split personality disorder – she was on the appropriate medication until recently when she became pregnant.

”She previously fell in with a crowd she shouldn’t have, but on this occasion she felt the need to leave the house because of her anxiety and foolishly chose to drive her mother’s car.

”Going for a drive helps calm her.

”If ever there’s a life-changing event, it’s the birth of your first child and she’s desperate that child does not see the inside of a prison cell.”

But magistrates decided to activate Williams’ suspended sentence and jailed her for 10 weeks.

Chair of the magistrates bench Celia Jenkins said: “These offences were so serious we will activate the suspended sentence.

”Court orders have to be obeyed.

”We understand you are clearly about to go through life-changing events and we would like to wish you good luck, there are people there to help you.

”I hope it goes as well as it can.”

Williams was also banned from driving until March 2019 and will be subject to post-sentence supervision for 47 weeks.

She will also pay a £115 victim surcharge, but no seperate penalty for the failure to stop.