Robert Gethin, 33, sped across junctions, skipped red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road
A driver who led police on a high-speed chase around Penarth in his pyjamas while he was twice the drink-drive limit has been jailed.
The court heard Robert Gethin turned his headlights off so he would be harder to see before speeding at 60mph in a 30mph zone, skipping red lights, and speeding across junctions.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, Recorder Timothy Petts said: “You did not cause an accident but that was more by luck than judgement. There was very serious potential for an accident.”
The 33-year-old from St David’s Crescent in Penarth admitted four offences – dangerous driving, drink-driving, failing to stop, and driving without insurance.
A driver who led police on a high-speed chase around Penarth in his pyjamas while he was twice the drink-drive limit has been jailed.
The court heard Robert Gethin turned his headlights off so he would be harder to see before speeding at 60mph in a 30mph zone, skipping red lights, and speeding across junctions.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, Recorder Timothy Petts said: “You did not cause an accident but that was more by luck than judgement. There was very serious potential for an accident.”
The 33-year-old from St David’s Crescent in Penarth admitted four offences – dangerous driving, drink-driving, failing to stop, and driving without insurance.
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The court heard that on June 3 the defendant had an argument with his girlfriend and planned to sleep in his car after being asked to leave her flat.
His barrister told the court Gethin was in his pyjamas and had no intention of driving his vehicle.
The court heard police were later called to reports of a drunk driver and tried to pull him over but he drove off – leading officers on a “prolonged” chase though the streets of Penarth.
According to a police report the defendant drove at between 55mph and 65mph in a 30mph zone, at times on the wrong side of the road, ignoring junctions and traffic lights.
The court heard that on June 3 the defendant had an argument with his girlfriend and planned to sleep in his car after being asked to leave her flat.
His barrister told the court Gethin was in his pyjamas and had no intention of driving his vehicle.
The court heard police were later called to reports of a drunk driver and tried to pull him over but he drove off – leading officers on a “prolonged” chase though the streets of Penarth.
According to a police report the defendant drove at between 55mph and 65mph in a 30mph zone, at times on the wrong side of the road, ignoring junctions and traffic lights.
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Argument with partner
Prosecutor Gareth Jones said the defendant only stopped when police used a stinger device to puncture his tyres. He then got out of the car and ran away before being found hiding under a nearby vehicle.
A test at the police station revealed he had 66mg of alcohol in his breath – nearly twice the legal limit of 35mg.
When interviewed he fully admitted the offences and told officers he’d had an argument with his partner.
The prosecutor argued the “prolonged” nature of the chase over a “significant” distance represented an aggravating factor along with the amount of alcohol in the defendant’s system.
The court heard Gethin had no previous convictions until earlier this year when he was convicted of harassing his partner with text messages following an argument about money.
Prosecutor Gareth Jones said the defendant only stopped when police used a stinger device to puncture his tyres. He then got out of the car and ran away before being found hiding under a nearby vehicle.
A test at the police station revealed he had 66mg of alcohol in his breath – nearly twice the legal limit of 35mg.
When interviewed he fully admitted the offences and told officers he’d had an argument with his partner.
The prosecutor argued the “prolonged” nature of the chase over a “significant” distance represented an aggravating factor along with the amount of alcohol in the defendant’s system.
The court heard Gethin had no previous convictions until earlier this year when he was convicted of harassing his partner with text messages following an argument about money.
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He was made the subject of a community order.
His barrister told the court the defendant accepted he had put himself, police officers, and members of the public at risk but argued there was little traffic on the road at the time.
Recorder Petts said: “This is a very serious case with so many aggravating factors.”
Gethin was sentenced to 10 months in prison for dangerous driving and disqualified from driving.
No separate penalty was made for driving without insurance, drink-driving, and failing to stop.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/driver-led-police-60mph-chase-11639987
He was made the subject of a community order.
His barrister told the court the defendant accepted he had put himself, police officers, and members of the public at risk but argued there was little traffic on the road at the time.
Recorder Petts said: “This is a very serious case with so many aggravating factors.”
Gethin was sentenced to 10 months in prison for dangerous driving and disqualified from driving.
No separate penalty was made for driving without insurance, drink-driving, and failing to stop.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/driver-led-police-60mph-chase-11639987
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