'Idiotic and dangerous' city centre driver 'could have caused a fatality'
Parry Jones, 28, of Borras Hall Lane, Llan Pwll, Wrexham appeared at Chester Crown Court on June 2 to be sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, obstructing a constable, drink driving, public order and possession of cannabis.
He was jailed for 19 months and banned from driving for three years, nine months and 14 days. He also has to take an extended test. The court heard that at 12.05pm on Saturday, May 3, police were made aware that a white Vauxhall Combo van was being driven in the Chester area by a disqualified driver who was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
At 12.40pm onwards local authority CCTV shows the van being driven around the city centre tailgating other cars. He turned left toward Grosvenor Park Road and collided with a pedestrian.
On Grosvenor Park Road he increased speed significantly and crossed into the second lane. He went onto Vicars Lane toward Pepper Street on the wrong side of the road, overtaking four stationary cars toward oncoming traffic before cutting in front of the fourth vehicle.
He then went on from Pepper Street onto Bridge Street where he turned right across the front of oncoming traffic at a crossroad junction. An officer spotted Parry-Jones driving along Pepper Street as it headed toward the Bridge Street area.
Two officers attempted to bring the van to a stop, but Parry-Jones deliberately reversed into the front of one of the vehicles before driving forward and attempting to flee through the bollards onto the pedestrianised area of the shopping precinct.
The van couldn't get through the bollards, but he did collide with a bicycle in a bike rack causing damage. When the two officers went to arrest Parry-Jones he was physically and verbally aggressive and appeared to be intoxicated, the court heard.
He tried to punch one of the officers but they managed to safely restrain him. They then found cannabis in his coat following a search.
Llewellyn Parry-Jones was later charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, resisting arrest, drink driving, use of threatening behaviour without intent and possession of class B drugs (cannabis).
PC David Smith said: 'His erratic driving around Chester City Centre while intoxicated was incomprehensible. The city centre was busy with vehicles and pedestrians at the time. His behaviour was reckless and could have caused a serious or even fatal incident.
'When we were able to bring him to a stop safely, he tried to evade capture, causing damage to our police vehicles and tried to assault officers. His behaviour was idiotic and dangerous and now he is paying the consequences.'
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