Patrick Duggan, 51, of Hotwell Road, Bristol, was sentenced to 19 months in prison after crashing into a police car during a chase in Abertillery, causing £28,000 worth of damage and writing off the vehicle.
The Chase
On June 30, Duggan led police on a chase around Abertillery, as told to Cardiff Crown Court by prosecutor James Evans. Dashcam footage from Rose Heyworth Road, Oak Street, and Castle Street showed Duggan repeatedly stopping abruptly and reversing into the front of the officer's car. The officer, whose car remained driveable, continued the pursuit.
Duggan then exited his vehicle, jumped down a steep embankment, and hid in brambles. Officers had difficulty extracting him, using a dog to locate him and lifting him out. Evans stated: "He was being as difficult as he possibly could." At the police station, Duggan refused to give his name, claiming he was a passenger. A breath test showed 47mg of alcohol, 12 micrograms above the legal limit.
Consequences
Duggan had been disqualified from driving since 1994 due to multiple driving offences. He has 54 previous convictions for 274 offences, including seven for dangerous or reckless driving. The police officer suffered neck and shoulder pain for an "extended period" and spent £207 on two physiotherapy appointments. The police car, valued at £31,000, sustained £28,000 in damage.
Sentencing
Defence barrister Peter Donnison described Duggan as a vulnerable adult with a challenging life, including abuse in boarding school and the suicide of his 19-year-old son 11 years ago. He noted that upon his most recent release from custody, Duggan received no support and could not access medication. Duggan admitted charges of driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, criminal damage, driving above the alcohol limit, and obstructing a constable. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced him to 19 months in prison for dangerous driving and disqualified him from driving for three years and nine months. He was also ordered to pay a £187 statutory surcharge within six months of release.
