A man caught dangerously driving by police and told he was extremely lucky not to get a prison term then did “exactly the same thing” again. James Norville was serving a suspended sentence for dangerous driving and driving while uninsured when he was spotted behind the wheel in Ystrad Mynach last month.
After officers spotted his uninsured Seat Leon, they turned on the blue lights and signalled for him to move over. However, the 23-year-old had other ideas - and he dangerously overtook cars and ran a red light, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Prosecuting counsel Hannah Friedman told the court how Gwent Police officer PC James realised the vehicle was uninsured when it passed him on the A472 at Ystrad Mynach last month at 2.25pm on April 9. PC James turned his blue lights on and repeatedly requested Norville stop driving, but the defendant failed to stop.
A second officer, PC Jenkins, was then also dispatched from Ystrad Mynach police station to chase Norville, who overtook 12 stationary vehicles at traffic lights on the road and drove through a red light. Norville was only stopped after Gwent Police deployed a helicopter and police dogs. Norville pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified and driving while uninsured at Gwent Magistrates Court on April 29.
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The court heard Norville's suspended sentence had been issued after in October 2020 he overtook a motorist while driving away from police on the wrong side of the road.
He then swapped back to the correct side of Corporation Road in Newport, driving in a 30mph zone at more than 80mph. He was only stopped on that occasion because he crashed into a traffic light on Cromwell Road in the city. Reflecting on the case, Judge David Wynn Morgan said he was “astonished” Norville didn’t get time in prison for those offences.
For Norville, Jenny Yeo said on this occasion her client didn’t greatly surpass speed restrictions on the road and noted that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. She said: “Since April 25 he has lived with his grandma and he had attended all supervision appointments and has been described by the probation service as ‘fully engaged’. He helps his grandma around the house with chores.”
Interrupting Ms Yeo, Judge Morgan said: “How does this mean he escapes the fact he committed a very serious offence of dangerous driving and then breached the order imposed on him? What is the public going to think if he doesn’t go to prison today?”
Ms Yeo pointed out Norville is autistic and has attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “His family are also in court today and he has sold his car so he is not tempted to reoffend,” she added. “He has used that money to buy a dog.” To get the latest news from WalesOnline sent straight to your email inbox, including our regular Crime and Punishment updates click here .
“Thank you Ms Yeo, you’ve said everything you can,” Judge Morgan replied. Then turning to Norville, he said: “Mr Norville, stand up. At the time that you committed this offence you were serving a suspended sentence for a very serious allegation of dangerous driving.
“Frankly I am astonished the court imposed a suspended sentence on that occasion and I can only assume it was because you were very young, your previous good character, and the difficulties which the court has alluded to. They are difficulties with which the court sympathises.
“When sentenced at that time you were told that if you committed further offences you could expect to go to prison to serve the remainder of that sentence behind bars. But not only did you go on and commit any old offence. You did almost exactly the same thing.
“I understand that you have cooperated with the public order and of course you did because you are obliged to. Your family must understand, and you must understand, that if you go on committing offences in breach of orders, then that order would have no meaning unless imposed. I am afraid that is what will be happening today.”
Norville, of Newport, was handed a 12 month jail sentence. He will serve half of that in prison with the rest on licence. He was also disqualified from driving for three years and must complete an “extensive” driving test before driving again.
