A drink driver who repeatedly reversed his Audi into a police car, causing £28,000 worth of damage and injuring an officer, has been jailed for 19 months.
Footage Shows Repeated Crashes
Patrick Duggan, 51, of Hotwell Road, Bristol, was captured on police video at 3am on June 30 driving an Audi through Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent. The clip shows him travelling along Rose Heyworth Road, Oak Street, and Castle Street, repeatedly stopping abruptly and reversing into the front of the police car.
Over one minute and ten seconds, the back of the Audi becomes increasingly damaged. The officer can be heard saying his car was still driveable before a final crash that leaves him groaning in pain.
Injury and Costs
The police officer suffered neck and shoulder pain for an extended period and required two physiotherapy appointments costing £207. Duggan caused £28,000 damage to the £31,000 police car, effectively writing it off.
After the final crash, Duggan fled the Audi, jumped down a steep embankment, and hid in brambles before being arrested. At the station, he blew 47mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – 12 micrograms above the 35mg limit.
Background and Sentence
Duggan had been disqualified from driving since 1994 due to a string of previous convictions – he had faced 54 convictions in total. The court heard he had travelled from Bristol to South Wales to try to cut ties with his former life.
Defence barrister Peter Donnison said Duggan was abused in boarding school and tragically lost his 19-year-old son to suicide 11 years ago, adding that his client made poor decisions but was desperate not to return to his old life.
Duggan admitted charges of driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, criminal damage, driving over the alcohol limit, and obstructing/resisting a constable. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced him to one year and seven months in prison for the lead offence of dangerous driving, disqualified him from driving for three years and nine months, and ordered him to pay a £187 statutory surcharge within six months of his release.
