A HOMELESS man who led police on a high-speed chase around the Ebbw Vale area reaching speeds up to 80mph after smoking cannabis has been jailed for 14 months.

Daniel Morgan appeared at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for a police officer, failing to provide a blood sample and possession of a class B drug, as well as getting behind the wheel without insurance or a licence.

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock told the court an officer on mobile patrol in Ebbw Vale at 1.25am on Thursday, April 21, had been informed of a green Peugeot 206 driving dangerously in the area, and soon found the car driving south on the A467 towards Abertillery.

“He noticed the offside tyre was producing sparks because it was deflated,” he said.

The officer gave chase in his police vehicle as the car being driven by Morgan drove through residential areas at speeds reaching more than 80mph.

During the 30-minute chase, during which a police helicopter was also dispatched, Morgan also drove on the opposite side of the road and the wrong way around roundabouts, before eventually hitting a kerb and crashing into a grass verge.

The officer administered a drugs test during which Morgan – who was not hurt in the crash – tested positive for cannabis, but when taken to the police station he refused to give a blood sample. A small package of cannabis was also found on his person.

The court heard 22-year-old, who has a young son, had also breached a 12-week suspended sentence he was handed in March for making threats to kill.

Jeffrey Jones, defending, said the car was effectively Morgan’s home as he had been made homeless a number of months ago.

“It is more by luck than his driving skills that no one was killed,” he said.

“When asked why take so much effort he said simply because the car is his home.”

Judge Dan Williams said: “It ended as it was bound to – in a crash.

“Luckily no other vehicle was involved and no one was hurt, or even worse.

“The offending is so serious that only a sentence of immediate imprisonment can be justified.”

He sentenced Morgan to 12 months in prison for dangerous driving, three months for failing to stop, three months for failing to provide a blood sample and 28 days for possession of cannabis, to run concurrently, as well as two months for breaching his suspended sentence, making a total jail term of 14 months.

He was also disqualified from holding a driving licence for 18 months. He was handed no separate penalty for driving without insurance or a licence.