Driver jailed for road chase

A 55-year-old Mid Wales man has been jailed for 18 months after driving at 80mph in an attempt to shake off pursuing police. Charles Hare was jailed at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

Hare, who was already banned from driving, also drove over a narrow hump backed bridge near Newbridge at 60mph against red traffic lights.

Hare, of Newbridge Cottage, St Mary's Street, Meifod, was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to take his driving test again.

He admitted dangerous driving, three charges of driving while disqualified, two charges of driving without insurance, and two counts of breaching his bail.

Mr Oliver King, prosecuting, said when Hare sped over the bridge there was no way he could have seen if anything was coming the other way.

The court heard police who followed saw sparks coming from the underside of the car as it hit the tarmac.

It was only a matter of luck that there was nothing coming in the other direction, he said.

Hare received a community order for disqualified driving from Welshpool magistrates on September 1 and was banned, but five days later was caught driving again. On September 25 he admitted the offences and the case was adjourned.

But on October 16, while banned and on bail awaiting sentence, he was seen in his Rover 800 again.

He was stopped by police but as officers got out of their vehicle he accelerated at speed along the A495, reaching speeds of 80mph.

Mr David Potter, defending, said Hare, was not in the best mental or physical health and now felt safer in jail than in the community.