A motorist who led police on a 25-mile pursuit in a heavy goods vehicle before abandoning it and hiding behind a shed has been sentenced. Ieuan Griffiths, 21, drove through red lights, crossed road markings and raced from Cheshire into Shropshire as officers chased the flatbed lorry for approximately 50 minutes.
Footage shows the large vehicle hurtling along roads with police in pursuit as Griffiths attempted to evade capture. The chase ended on a narrow country lane near Whitchurch, but Griffiths then leapt from the cab and tried to flee on foot. Officers found him hiding behind a shed at a nearby caravan park.
No licence or insurance
Checks revealed Griffiths, of Wrexham, did not hold a valid driving licence or insurance to operate the lorry. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.
Chester Magistrates' Court was told the pursuit began shortly before 11am on August 10 when a Cheshire Police roads officer stopped the flatbed lorry in Cuddington. As the officer stepped out to speak to the driver, Griffiths accelerated away.
Pursuit through red lights
A pursuit was initiated and the officer kept the lorry in view as it repeatedly jumped red lights, crossed road markings and travelled at excessive speeds. A coordinated police response brought the lorry to a standstill on a narrow lane in Whitchurch, where Griffiths bolted from the vehicle and fled on foot.
During questioning, Griffiths said he had no explanation for leading officers on the almost hour-long chase. He also claimed he had no idea why he refused to pull over, despite being aware that multiple police vehicles were pursuing him.
Suspended sentence and ban
Griffiths acknowledged showing no regard for fellow road users during the pursuit and confirmed his driving licence had been revoked and he was uninsured. He appeared before Chester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (September 29), where he received an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also handed a two-year driving ban and ordered to pass an extended test before returning to the road. He must complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay more than £270 in costs and fees.
Police constable Michael Clark said: "It is a miracle that Griffiths' blatant disregard for safety whilst driving did not result in himself, the pursuing officers or any other road users or pedestrians sustaining any serious injuries during this pursuit through Cheshire and out into West Mercia."
Clark added: "His choice to not only fail to stop for police, but to also take considerable safety risks in an attempt to flee from officers, has now resulted in him being banned from the roads for two years and needing to take an extended test to ensure he is fully fit to get back behind the wheel again."
He said the case shows that regardless of vehicle size, police will not discriminate and will always take action against anyone flouting the rules of the road and putting others at risk of harm.
