Newtown drug driver sentenced for driving while banned
Kian Jones fled from police officers after they tried to stop him riding a modified e-bike in Newtown in January.
The 22-year-old said he had only been on a short ride in a park to test out the new vehicle, but didn't realise it was the police pursuing him and was worried they would steal the bike.
However, GoPro footage later revealed he had been on an 11-minute ride through the town in which he ran a red light, drove on the wrong side of the road, and without headlights, and overtook a vehicle.
At Welshpool Magistrates' Court today (Tuesday, July 15), Jones pleaded guilty to drug driving with cannabis in his system, while disqualified, without insurance, an MOT, and without due care and attention on Plantation Lane.
Helen Tench, prosecuting, explained that at around 10.30pm on January 12, police noticed a motorbike with no lights on. They indicated for it to stop, but Jones made off before losing control of the vehicle.
Jones picked it up and began to run while trying to get back on it, and it then made contact with the police vehicle. Jones tried to run off again but was arrested.
She said: "He said he couldn't initially see it was the police and thought a car was trying to knock him off his bike, he thought they were going to rob him.
"All he could hear was the engine of the car, and he didn't want to die - he thought the police officer wanted to run him over and kill him."
When asked about the GoPro he said it "wasn't dangerous, more careless".
Rob Hanratty, defending, said it was a "very unfortunate" incident.
He continued: "He is a young man who is interested in motorbikes and has spent a significant amount of time working on this vehicle, and he wanted to test it out.
"But there is clearly a lack of consequential thinking. He is more of a danger to himself than anybody else. It was a disastrous experience for him."
Joe Long, from the probation service, added: "He is a groundworker and his employment could be at risk as he nearly lost his job when he was disqualified for drug driving in 2023."
Magistrates gave Jones a 12-month community order to include 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days for the drug driving and driving while disqualified offences.
He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months for drug driving and 12 months for driving while disqualified; however, these will run concurrently.
No separate penalties were awarded for the other three offences.
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