A groundworker led police on a dramatic morning car chase. Phillip Sutton had just left work but he was well over the alcohol limit as he sped along the wrong side of blind bends.
The pursuit ended with the 43-year-old dad-of-two from Maesteg being caught drink-driving for the fourth time. He was in the Lampeter area for work on March 18 when he drove his Vauxhall Corsa in a way which "could have killed someone," Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard.
Prosecutor Alycia Carpanini said a police officer saw the Corsa at around 10.44am and signalled for Sutton to stop — which he initially did. "The driver parked on the pavement but as PC Lewis walked towards the door he sped off in the Felinfach direction," she said. "Within minutes of him making off PC Williams informed control room he had sighted the vehicle, which failed to stop on his request."
Read next: Drink-driving mum smashes into car and lamppost
The court heard Sutton drove above the 40mph speed limit along the B4337 near the Cross Inn. While travelling near Temple Bar he sped round a bend and onto a single-lane stone bridge. "PC Williams says that when the Corsa crossed the bridge its wheels appeared to leave the road surface," Ms Carpanini added.
"The officer had made ground on the vehicle which was 150 yards ahead and going round a right-hand bend on the wrong side of the road. It was travelling at 70mph and negotiating corners on the wrong side, especially on bends where oncoming traffic wouldn't have had a view.
"The driver entered a series of bends where he appeared to almost lose control of the vehicle before pulling over and coming to a stop. PC Williams could see him removing his key from the ignition and holding up his hands. He was immediately placed in handcuffs to prevent him escaping."
Sutton, of Mynydd Glas in Maesteg, appeared in court on Friday and admitted driving with 64mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. He also pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention as well as failing to stop.
The defendant has 19 previous offences on his record including three of drink-driving and one of failing to provide a specimen after driving. His record also includes driving while disqualified.
Sutton had been doing groundwork for Enzo's Homes in Ceredigion before the car chase. He said: "Because I was working away I would drink in the week more than at home."
Rhodri Chudleigh, mitigating, told the court that Sutton had been sent home from work on the morning of March 18 after "having issues with someone else working on the site". He knew he had been drinking heavily the night before but "wasn't thinking straight" when he got behind the wheel, said the solicitor.
"When police signalled for him to stop he panicked," Mr Chudleigh added. "He suspected he might be over the limit and it turned out he was.
"He has two children aged 20 and 11. He has been working with APMS builders since April. They recognise he will be disqualified from driving but they have said they are happy to employ Mr Sutton, although he is limited in what he can do. He is working in a yard doing what he can without a licence. He is working full-time and earning £300 to £350 a week."
Passing sentence Deputy District Judge Kirsty Allman said: "I've heard evidence you were speeding, contravened road markings, drove so quickly over a stone bridge that your wheels left the road surface, and repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road on bends. You could have faced a more serious charge. That driving was completely unacceptable. To be frank, you could have killed someone."
Sutton tilted his head back and exhaled loudly when Judge Allman told him the jail term would be suspended. She said immediate custody would have a "harmful impact" on Sutton's daughter. The judge also believed there was a "realistic prospect" of rehabilitation.
She imposed eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months. Sutton must complete 20 rehab days and a six-week curfew from 7pm to 5am. He will be banned from driving for four years and must pay a £128 victim services surcharge and prosecution costs of £85. You can read more court stories here.
READ NEXT:
