Speeding driver fled scene after smashing Audi into wall during police pursuit

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A disqualified driver 'panicked' when police officers saw him driving at excessive speed and overtaking several cars near Caernarfon.

Owen Ellis Humphreys, 23, of Bro Arfon, Y Fron near Penygroes, had been banned from driving for 12 months after a drug-driving offence at the end of November 2018.

But late on November 7 last year police officers patrolling the A487 at Bontnewydd saw a silver Audi car being driven at speed.

A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court was told they saw the car overtaking other vehicles and remaining on the wrong side of the road as it approached a right hand bend.

Jemma Gordon, prosecuting, said as they followed the Audi with their blue lights illuminated the vehicle collided with a wall and the driver ran into a field.

A search of the vehicle revealed a bag which contained 25 small bags of cocaine, an illegal drug of Class A, and some cannabis and drug related paraphernalia the barrister added.

The previous owner of the vehicle was contacted and told police he had sold the vehicle to Humphreys two days earlier and CCTV footage at a petrol station showed him driving the vehicle.

"When Humphreys was arrested on November 14 further cannabis was found," added Ms Gordon.

Humphreys admitted two charges of disqualified driving, one of dangerous driving and possessing illegal drugs.

Handing Humphreys a 10-month jail sentence suspended for a year Judge Huw Rees told him he was lucky he had not been charged with the more serious offence of possessing drugs with intent to supply.

He added: "You have had a long term involvement with cocaine and cannabis and you will make a mess of your life if you carry on taking drugs."

Humphreys was also banned from driving for 15 months and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. He must also attend 35 sessions of a Thinking Skills programme organised by the Probation Service and undertake a six month Drug Treatment Order with regular testing.

The judge ordered the drugs and paraphernalia be forefeited and destroyed.

Defence counsel Dafydd Roberts said: "He needs to be encouraged to give drugs up."

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