Disqualified driver Samuel Garratt, 26, has been jailed for speeding at 80mph in a 20mph zone during a police chase – he had previously been caught ‘racing’ on the Severn Bridge
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Wales: Driver reaches speeds of 80mph in 20mph zones during police chase
Shocking footage shows the moment a disqualified driver reached astonishingly dangerous speeds of 80mph in a 20mph residential area as he tried to escape police.
Samuel Garratt, 26, was driving northbound on the A470 near Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in South Wales on November 19 last year when a police officer on patrol recognised him as a disqualified driver. He had previously appeared in court after “racing” with others on the Severn Bridge.
The officer attempted to pull over Garratt’s blue Ford Fiesta near the Nantgarw Interchange, but he failed to stop, sparking a police chase that lasted six minutes.
Garratt drove towards Upper Boat at speeds of 80mph in 20mph residential roads, a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court yesterday heard. He went through red traffic lights, and crossed onto the opposite side of the road while doing 60mph.
Prosecutor Charles Archer said he narrowly passed by past a highways vehicle, and was eventually brought to a stop after a stinger was deployed, reports Wales Online. Garratt, of Merthyr Vale, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.
The court heard the defendant received a suspended sentence of six months after he was caught driving in convoy and racing with other motorists on the Severn Bridge in 2022.
In mitigation, Neil Evans said Garratt had done well on his previous suspended sentence order. He said he is the sole carer of his eight-year-old daughter, who is currently living with his mother while he is in custody.
Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Garratt to 10 months in prison. He also disqualified him from driving for three years.
