A learner driver led police on a "ridiculously dangerous" chase through red lights and the wrong way around roundabouts in Swansea .
The 20 year old took police on an 18-minute chase along main roads and residential streets before abandoning the car
Liam Protheroe sped off from officers in the early hours of June 9 after they signalled for him to stop.
The 20-year-old led them on an 18-minute pursuit along main roads and residential streets before abandoning the car and fleeing the scene.
'Speeds of 90mph'
Janet Gedrych, for the prosecution, said police first encountered Protheroe on the roundabout at the bottom of Llansamlet Road.
According to the South Wales Evening Post , the provisional licence holder then sped off from officers, touching speeds of 90mph as he raced along the A484 towards Llanelli.
Protheroe, who had only bought the car the day before the chase, eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled — but was caught almost immediately by the pursuing officers.
Swansea Crown Court heard that when detained he told officers he was sorry and that he had "panicked" when police tried to pull him over.
Georgina Buckley, for Protheroe, said the defendant - who had no previous convictions - was extremely remorseful for what he had done.
The barrister said he had been "mixing with people who perhaps he wouldn't normally mix with", and that his peers had put pressure on him to drive his new car.
Protheroe, of Westland Close, Loughor, had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and to driving without a licence or insurance when he appeared in the dock.
Judge Paul Thomas described his driving as "ridiculously dangerous" and said he had put the lives of other road users at risk.
He added that courts too often had to sentence drivers who had killed innocent people and "ripped families to pieces".
'One-off'
The judge said that having read a pre-sentence report into Protheroe he was satisfied the events of June 9 had been "a one-off aberration — albeit a very serious one" and that he could suspend the term of custody.
Protheroe was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, and was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He will have to take an extended driving test before he gets his licence.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/learner-driver-led-police-90mph-11710807
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