A learner driver called his girlfriend and told her "I'm driving your car" - while he was involved in a 80mph police chase. Ryan Martin sped off from officers after they tried to flag him down, leading to a 12 mile pursuit which saw him breaking speed limits, going the wrong way around roundabouts and driving on the wrong side of the road.
He was eventually detained after a stinger device was used to puncture the car tyres. Prosecutor Sian Cutter told Swansea Crown Court that authorities spotted the Toyota Yaris being driven erratically at a set of traffic lights on January 30.
The police signalled to the driver to pull over on Church Street and Station Road in Llanelli town centre, but the car then sped off and officers lost sight of the vehicle. After reporting the car to local units, two other officers spotted the vehicle and attempted to block it on the road, according to Wales Online.
Instead the car sped off, and officers lost sight of it. However they passed its details on to colleagues, and a different unit in the town quickly spotted the fleeing vehicle and pulled in front of it to try to block its escape. The driver of the Toyota - later identified as Martin - reversed onto the pavement to get away from the cop car and then drove through a red traffic light and made off
Officers pursued the Yaris, and Martin reached speeds touching 80mph as he raced westwards on the A484 towards Burry Port, going the wrong way around roundabouts, taking blend bends on the wrong side of the road, and at one stage going through red traffic lights at temporary road works. The 24-year-old defendant continued through Pembrey and on to Kidwelly - avoiding a stinger tyre-busting device on the way - before turning around in the town and heading back towards Pembrey.
Miss Cutter said during the pursuit Martin rang his partner to tell he was being chased by police, and that was driving her car. A second stinger device was subsequently deployed - this time successfully - and the pursuing police units were able to box in the Yaris and bring the chase to an end.
The court heard the Toyota was a courtesy car which had been given to the defendant's partner while her Motability car was in the garage, and she had no idea Martin had taken it on the evening in question. In his police interview the defendant - who only has a provisional driving licence - answered "no comment" to all questions asked.
Ryan Martin, of Llys Cennech, Llangennech, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He had one previous conviction for four offences - two counts harassment, possession of bladed article, and house burglary.
Matt Murphy, for Martin, said the defendant had initially driven off from police because he feared a custodial sentence for taking his partner's car - a relatively minor offence - but in so doing had committed a much more serious offence which necessitated such an outcome. He said his client now has a new partner, and wants to be a supportive father to his two children, though he accepts that support is going to be "paused" for a period while he is in custody.
Judge Huw Rees told Martin he had taken his partner's car without her consent and then driven it dangerously over a significant distance though towns and villages. He said he had read letters submitted to the court, including from the defendant himself, and had no doubt there was another side to Martin's character, and that the defendant was contrite.
With a one-third discount for his guilty plea Martin was sentenced to 12 months in prison for dangerous driving and three months for taking a vehicle without consent, the sentences to run concurrently. No separate penalties were imposed for the licence and insurance and matters.
He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant was also disqualified from driving for 18 months, with the ban extended by an extra six months to cover the time he will be behind bars, and must pass an extended test before he can get a full licence.
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