Dangerous driver's actions 'so bad' police had to end pursuit

Samuel Dodd, 26, of Milford Street, Mold, was jailed for 12 months for dangerous driving
-Credit: (Image: North Wales Police)


A dangerous driver's behaviour was "so bad" that the pursuing police had to end their chase on safety grounds. Cops followed Samuel Dodd as he drove at 70mph in a 20mph zone and headed the wrong way down a carriageway in Flintshire.

But Dodd, who had taken his partner's Audi car without her consent, later handed himself in. A judge at Mold Crown Court jailed him for 12 months for dangerous driving in the incident in Bagillt.

Prosecutor Karl Scholz said police in an unmarked car spotted Dodd's Audi on the A548 near Bagillt on April 21 at about 12.20pm. He was driving over the 50mph limit.

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They put on their siren and blue lights indicating he should stop but he didn't. The driver reached speeds of 90mph in a 50mph zone before entering Bagillt High Street. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

He drove at 70mph in a 20mph zone before going through a red light. He also overtook on a bend and narrow missed a parked car.

He turned back onto the A548 but went on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding a collision, said Mr Scholz. He was driving towards oncoming traffic and a police sergeant in the unmarked car ended the pursuit as it was "far too dangerous" to continue it.

However, officers traced the car's owner - Abby Williams - who was Dodd's partner, the court heard. She said Dodd had just rung her and the officer spoke to him with Dodd suggesting they meet in Chester. He didn't turn up.

Ms Williams said Dodd hadn't had permission to drive the car as he has no insurance. She later told officers where he had left the car. Simon Rogers, defending, said his client handed himself in at a police station.

He said he is "remorseful and ashamed". He has had a lack of stability in his life. He has lost a child and lost contact with another child. He has had depression and has previously been admitted to The Priory clinic, said the barrister.

He is a factory worker who hopes to go to college and join a trade. But the judge The Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones told the defendant his driving had been so dangerous the police had had to pull back.

"People get seriously injured and often killed in high speed cars such as these. It does not take much for a high speed chase to turn into people being dead in their vehicle," he said.

It was "pure luck" that there were no casualties this time. Dodd admitted a string of offences.

The judge jailed Dodd, of Milford Street, Mold, for the dangerous driving and for four months for taking a vehicle without consent, to run concurrently. There were no separate penalties for driving with no licence nor insurance.

Dodd was disqualified from driving for three and a half years and must pass an extended retest.

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