'Foolish' motorist drove on three tyres then crashed into roundabout

A "foolish" motorist drove on three tyres then crashed onto a roundabout. Daniel Thomas' car had had a blowout on one wheel.

But he carried on driving for four and a half miles before ploughing through a chevron sign into the island near Dolgellau. Caernarfon Crown Court heard he then got out of his car and fled.

Thomas, 22, of Ffordd Heulog, Dolgellau, admitted dangerous driving. A judge said it was out of character and he gave him a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work to do.

Read more: Couple deny murdering their own grandson as trial date set

Read more: Majorca cuts number of tourists allowed to visit amid 'collapse'

Prosecutor Dafydd Roberts said a police officer was called to deal with a Volkswagen Polo on a roundabout on the outskirts of Dolgellau on February 11. The blue car was damaged but there was no-one in it, the court heard.

Mr Roberts said the officer worked out that the car had had a blowout on its front offside wheel. But it had continued on a wheel rim until it failed to negotiate the roundabout and went straight onto it.

The officer found pieces of the rubber tyre along the road. He deduced that the motorist had been driving on a wheel rim for about four and a half miles before the crash.

Mr Roberts said Thomas rang North Wales Police the following morning to say he had been the driver. In a voluntary interview he said he had had a slow puncture leading to a blowout. He continued driving on only the wheel rim which he accepted was dangerous. It had cut into the Tarmac, the court heard.

Richard Edwards, defending, said his client had been foolish and panicked. The following morning he contacted police himself "when he realised the enormity of what had happened". But the incident had been "totally out of character" and he is remorseful. He lives with his parents and works for the local council.

Judge Timothy Petts told Thomas he had continued to drive even after his tyre had blown out. Even an inexperienced driver should have known they should stop, said the judge.

He added: "Fortunately no-one else was injured through your stupidity." He gave Thomas a 12-month community order with two conditions. He must do the 80 hours of unpaid work and attend 15 days of rehabilitation activity. Thomas was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pass an extended retest. He must also pay £420 towards prosecution costs.