Moment teenage joyrider, 19, races police car through the streets at 113mph – causing vehicles to swerve out of the way before smashing through a hedge
- Dafydd Williams, 19, hijacked the police car after officers detained his friend
- He then raced it through narrow country lanes near Caerphilly, in south Wales
This is the outrageous moment a tearaway teen hijacked a police car and raced it at 113mph before smashing into another vehicle and crashing into a hedge.
‘Dangerous’ Dafydd Williams, 19, was caught on dashcam as he took the police car for his hair-raising getaway as he was chased by officers.
A court heard the drama began when police were called to arrest Williams and an accomplice after a racist attack on a garage owner.
Officers got out of their car to taser his accomplice – but reckless joyrider Williams hopped in to speed away in the marked patrol vehicle.
He then drove the high-performance Skoda Superb at speed through narrow country lanes in the village of Machen, near Caerphilly, south Wales, causing other horrified road users to swerve out his way as he was pursued by cops.
Prosecutor Roger Griffths told Cardiff Crown Court: ‘I will now play the CCTV footage of the dangerous driving because no words can adequately describe it.
‘Dangerous’ Dafydd Williams, 19, was caught on dashcam after hijacking a police car and crashing it. Pictured is the damaged cruiser
Williams drove the police vehicle at speeds of 113mph through narrow country lanes before losing control and crashing into a hedge (pictured)
Williams (pictured) drove the high-performance Skoda Superb through the village of Machen, near Caerphilly, Wales
‘He mounted the pavement close to pedestrians. He accelerated into a built-up area and drove at up to 90mph in a 30mph area, performing a number of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and contravening road signs.
‘He travelled through Machen village at 80mph and at one stage reached 113mph in a 30mph area, swerving from side to side.
‘At one point the defendant tried to use a bus stop to undertake a red Honda Jazz, but he collided with its rear at 64mph, causing the Honda to travel across the carriageway and collide head-on with a Nissan travelling in the opposite direction.’
Witness Karl Johnson, 32, was in the quiet lane when the smashed-up patrol car sped past around a corner.
He then saw a police motorcyclist followed by another marked police car in hot pursuit of the hijacked cruiser.
And his dashcam then captured the moment fleeing thief Williams veered off the road into a hedge.
Karl said the stolen car narrowly avoided crashing into him. ‘As the police vehicle swerved it lost control and disappeared through the hedge. It was a close call,’ he said.
Cardiff Crown Court heard after crashing into the hedge he tried to run away but was caught by a police dog.
Dashcam footage captured the moment a police motorbike and car were seen chasing after Williams
Footage from inside the stolen police cruiser also revealed the moment Williams slammed into the back of a Honda Jazz while travelling at speeds of 64mph
And more video from insider the hijacked police car shows the moment Williams loses control and crashes into a hedge
Police noticed an ‘overpowering’ smell of alcohol emanating from Williams, who appeared ‘very drunk’.
Williams admitted possession of an offensive weapon, racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated criminal damage, taking a police car without authority, dangerous driving, damaging property, and driving while disqualified and unfit through drink with no insurance or licence.
Williams, of Wattsville, was already under a suspended 16-week jail term for thefts and driving while disqualified.
He also had previous convictions for dangerous driving, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and threats to kill.
Richard Ace, mitigating, said: ‘There is an obvious level of immaturity, not just because he’s 19 but because he’s an immature young man for his age.
Williams hijacked the car after police were called to arrest him and an accomplice after a racist attack on a garage owner. Pictured is the damage to the vehicle after Williams slammed into a red Honda
The court heard Williams accelerated into a built-up area and drove at up to 90mph in a 30mph zone, performing a number of ‘dangerous overtaking manoeuvres’. Pictured is footage from inside the stolen police car
‘He was introduced to alcohol and drugs when he was barely a teenager. When he was 16 he started offending.
Judge Recorder Simon Hughes jailed Williams for 92-weeks and banned him from driving three years and 46 weeks.
Speaking after the case, Superintendent Leanne Brustad, head of Gwent roads policing, said: ‘Dafydd Williams was stopped by officers after he was seen driving dangerously.
‘He chose to then take a marked police car, while intoxicated, and put members of the public and road users – many of whom undoubtedly thought he was an officer using the car for its intended purpose in response to an emergency – at direct risk of harm.
‘A marked police car is not just something that our officers use to attend emergencies, it is a resource which helps us keep our communities safe. Williams’ dangerous behaviour meant that we were unable to use this car, which is funded by the taxpayer, to respond to calls to service while it was repaired.’
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