Teenage driver almost hit pedestrian in police chase that lasted 40 minutes

Luke Davies, of Primrose Street in Connah’s Quay, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to four offences, including dangerous driving and possession of an offensive weapon.

Prosecuting Jemma Gordon said in the early hours of October 12, at about 2.45am, police officers were on mobile patrol in Connah’s Quay when they saw a white van ‘drive off at speed’ near GT Bar and Grill.

Despite activating emergency lights while following the vehicle, it ‘failed to stop’, with speeds reaching 80mph.

Still images, above and below, from footage of the police pursuit in Connah's Quay. Images courtesy of Crown Prosecution Service

The pursuit lasted about 40 minutes and the court heard how Davies, who is 19, almost collided with a pedestrian.

Ms Gordon went on to say that after a successful stinger deployment, the vehicle was stopped and searched.

A search of the van found a bag of cannabis, a knuckleduster and Davies tested positive for cannabis and cocaine.

The prosecution added that officers described the van as ‘ramming their vehicle off the side’ when another vehicle ‘made contact’ and stopped the van.

In his initial interview, Davies admitted he was out with his girlfriend and although the vehicle was registered to him, he only holds a provisional licence.

The court heard how ‘he panicked’ as ‘he knew he should not be driving’ and he had hoped to ‘lose the officers’.

Davies told police his friend had given him the knuckleduster to look after and he ‘wasn’t aware it was an offensive weapon’.

Defence Oliver King, said Davies ‘knows he will be punished’ but requested the punishment to ‘be in the community’.

He told Mold Crown Court that it was a ‘prolonged piece of bad driving’ whilst driving in excess of the speed limit and ‘making contact with a police vehicle’ but he does not have any similar convictions.

He added: “When one watches the footage, apart from failing to stop, at most reaching 66mph in residential areas, he doesn’t come across any other traffic.

“Officers were assessing it as a low risk.

“He doesn’t mount the curb, there’s no other drivers, he manoeuvres and doesn’t collide with other cars. Fortunately, everyone walks away from this without injuries.”

Davies, who is completing an apprenticeship at SE Electrical, was described as ‘well mannered, likeable and trustworthy’ and his employers have ‘no problems with continuing to employ him in the future’.

Judge Niclas Parry said he ‘could have killed someone’ as it was a ‘prolonged police chase’ with excessive speeds and driving through a red light, including ‘coming close to colliding with a pedestrian’.

He said: “You will understand I would wish to impose a none custodial sentence but you would understand I can’t.

“The reason for that is because you were involved in a prolonged police chase with excessive speeds which included driving through red lights and coming close to colliding with a pedestrian.

“You could have killed that pedestrian, as well as killing yourself.

“Only a custodial sentence can be justified.”

Judge Parry went on to say he takes into account his age, no previous motoring convictions and gave maximum credit to an early guilty plea.

Davies was sentenced for dangerous driving which would ‘take into account everything that happened that night’.

He was given 14 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and no separate penalties were given for the other offences.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and an extended retest should be passed.

Davies was further ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community and pay a £500 contribution of compensation to damages. Davies was also given an electronic curfew.