A car thief reached speeds of 120mph during a police chase but he broke both of his ankles while jumping from a wall when trying to escape. A judge said it was "remarkable" nobody was maimed or killed as a result of his driving.
Steven Baker, 29, stole a Ford Fiesta outside a house in Cardiff between October 8 and 9 last year after he broke into the property through a cat flap and took the car keys. When the owners returned to the property in Llandaff they realised the car was missing and the house had been broken into.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard the police were called and officers were told to look out for the vehicle. ANPR cameras in Cwmbran picked up the car on October 9 and Baker was located in Malpas Street at 10.45pm while behind the wheel.
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Prosecutor Gareth James said the defendant sped up and reached speeds of 80mph in a 60mph zone. By Cwmbran stadium Baker drove on the wrong side of a roundabout to overtake a vehicle and drove the wrong side of a keep left island – narrowly missing another motorist.
The defendant continued to drive the wrong way around roundabouts and drove at 60mph in 30mph zones before entering the northbound carriageway on the wrong side of the road and travelling south towards Newport for six and a half miles. He passed five roundabouts on the wrong side and police reached speeds of 120mph in an attempt to catch Baker.
Mr James said a police helicopter kept track of the defendant who abandoned the car in Frederick Street and was seen jumping over a wall. Unfortunately for Baker there was a "significant drop" on the other side and he broke both of his ankles as a result.
Baker attempted to stagger away but was unable to walk as a result of his injuries. He was later found by police hiding between two cars and he was arrested. He gave a "no comment" interview but the defendant, of Bailey Crescent, Newport, later admitted dangerous driving, burglary, and aggravated vehicle-taking. The court heard he had 33 previous convictions including robberies, burglaries, and taking vehicles without permission.
In mitigation William Bebb said his client had been on remand in prison for three months since entering his plea and was still in pain and struggling to walk as a result of his injuries. He said the defendant had a "turbulent upbringing" and was taken into care when he was 10 years old but he now has a young daughter and has been offered work.
Sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: "Disgraceful doesn't even come near it – it was shameful. It's hard to see how there could be a worse case of dangerous driving. It's remarkable you did not maim or kill an innocent member of the public. You risked the lives of motorists coming home and showed utter disregard for life."
Baker was sentenced to just under 45 months imprisonment. He was also disqualified from driving for four years and 11 months.
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