Blackwood driver jailed after 100mph chase on A467

1:58pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Ruth Mansfield

A DRIVER who led police on a high-speed car chase through the Valleys, clocking up more than 100mph, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

Ashley Lewis, 22, of The Countryman Inn, Blackwood, was pursued on the A467 between Newbridge and Abercarn on August 1 by police officers in an unmarked police car after he refused to stop, Cardiff crown court heard.

The court was told that at one point in the chase, police had to drive at more than 100mph and even then it took them a mile to catch up with Lewis’ car.

Lewis appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and failing to stop.

Recorder David Aubrey QC said that during the pursuit, Lewis had overtaken a vehicle and turned left at a roundabout ending up in a 30mph housing area..

He continued to drive in excess of 50mph before driving down a narrow lane, which had bins on both sides, at 42mph.

Lewis then escaped from view of the police officers. When he appeared again, he ended up behind the police which brought his vehicle to a stop in the Coed Celyn area of Abercarn.

Lewis tried to make an escape but gave himself up when he realised police dogs were involved in the case.

The judge said: "The driving is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"If you drive in this dangerous way, where there is a risk of serious injury, of grave injury, if not death, you will be going to prison for longer and longer periods of time."

Lewis was sentenced to eight months for dangerous driving. No separate penalty was given for the other offences.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Comments(11)

wills23 says...
3:27pm Sun 9 Sep 12

1 down, many more to go. Every person in that " countryman inn" should be put in prison to serve a proper sentence and not just be on tag. The sooner the Inn is used back as a pub the better

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digispamman says...
8:43pm Sun 9 Sep 12

put him in the stocks!

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beccij1 says...
11:36pm Sun 9 Sep 12

so what is the countryman inn being used as then if not a pub ,and how irresponsible to drive like that though a built up area could quite easy have killed someone stupid idiots dont care these days think they above the law ,well this goes to show they not

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wills23 says...
6:49am Mon 10 Sep 12

Being used as a young offenders hostel who are mostly ( if not all ) are on Tag

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Mr Angry says...
8:27am Mon 10 Sep 12

digispamman wrote:
put him in the stocks!
Indeed, and while in prison beat him with a cat of nine tails without mercy three times every day throughout his sentence!!!!

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Uomo senza nome says...
12:04pm Mon 10 Sep 12

you forgot the bit about him being, put on a rack, then hung, drawn and quartered, and the remains being buried in an iron coffin with spikes on the inside!
it's the only language some people understand!

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denlexx says...
12:30pm Mon 10 Sep 12

i guess if he had killed someone he might have got off with less, i know people who have. what a mad house this country is coming to.

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Mr Angry says...
12:48pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Uomo senza nome wrote:
you forgot the bit about him being, put on a rack, then hung, drawn and quartered, and the remains being buried in an iron coffin with spikes on the inside! it's the only language some people understand!
I know, I guess I'm getting soft in my old age.

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corpardguy says...
5:10pm Mon 10 Sep 12

If these "young offenders" are not doing some form of regimented labour on a regular basis (even if its just digging a drainage ditch, and then filling it back in) they will never get used to HAVING to do work. Get them into a work habit not just get up and watch tele or talk ......
Its good for the soul and keep them fit too. and shouldn't be too expensive to implement.....

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wynbar says...
6:14pm Mon 10 Sep 12

He got 8 months for dangerous driving but no penalty for no insurance and no licence . Why not?
I know drivers who have been been done for doing 34 mph in a 30mph limit.

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Carrot's says...
6:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12

From the report - it seems the only people who broke 100mph were the police. There has to be a safer way.

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