An out-of-control driver smashed into four police cars after a dramatic police chase on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. Matthew Woody-Jones evaded officers for 12 miles before crashing into four cars and causing thousands worth of damage in the incident earlier this year.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Woody-Jones, of Bedminster, Bristol, was pursued by two Gwent Police vehicles at around 1.24am on April 6 after the silver Ford Transit van he was driving was flagged to the force. Officers followed Woody-Jones, 34, who was travelling towards Pontypool before taking the exit going towards Newport.
Martha Smith-Higgins, prosecuting, told the court Woody-Jones continued driving despite police using their lights asking him to stop. Two more police cars joined and followed Woody-Jones onto the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge where he began "driving dangerously." Footage shown to the court showed Woody-Jones "weaving between lanes" in a bid to escape officers. Get the latest court cases sent to your email inbox with our Crime & Punishment newsletter.
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After around 12 miles Ms Smith-Higgins said Woody-Jones, who was driving at between 60 and 80mph, "slammed on the brakes" before driving the wrong way on the bridge. Officers reversed to try and bring him to a stop before Woody-Jones drove forward again and collided with several of the vehicles. Police continued to pursue him until the van slowed, "spinning" before coming to a stop where officers apprehended the driver.
The court heard the shocking incident had resulted in "significant damage" to all four police vehicles with repairs to one car alone costing £17,516.54. The total repairs involved in all the damaged vehicles was £56,416.58. Woody-Jones was arrested and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, criminal damage, and driving while disqualified.
The court heard Woody-Jones had 33 previous convictions for 68 offences including three occasions where he had been found driving while disqualified. Rhodri Chudleigh, defending, said his client had been going through financial struggles surrounding a rent increase at the property he lived at with his partner and eight-year-old daughter. He said he had been visiting a friend in Pontypool on the night and was aware he should not have been driving. He said Woody-Jones "panicked" when pursued by police and that his first thought had been to get back to England as he wanted to be remanded in a prison close to his home if he was caught for driving while disqualified.
Mr Chudleigh said his client was aware of the seriousness of his actions and knew that he would pay a "significant price" for what had happened, also citing his early guilty plea in mitigation. Recorder Andrew Hammond said the footage of the incident was "truly shocking", adding: "You placed these police officers in a desperately dangerous situation through the way in which you drove where they had to take controlled but drastic action to bring this pursuit to an end."
He added that Woody-Jones' "prolonged period of awful driving" showed "complete disregard" for public safety and took place on a bridge above water in wet driving conditions. He said the offences had been aggravated by the defendant's previous convictions and disqualification from driving though he acknowledged his early guilty plea and financial struggles.
Woody-Jones was sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison, half of which he will serve in custody before serving the remainder on licence. He was disqualified from driving for another two years and eight months and ordered to take an extended driving retest afterwards. A statutory surcharge was applied but no costs were awarded with Mr Hammond saying asking for compensation would be a "waste of time" given the defendant's financial struggles and the extent of the damage to the cars.
Superintendent Mike Richards, from the roads policing and specialist operations unit at Gwent Police, said: “Matthew Woody-Jones drove dangerously on the M4 placing other road users directly at risk through his reckless actions. He refused to stop several times for officers when instructed to do so and was eventually brought to a halt on the M4 Prince of Wales bridge.
“Officers following his van used several tactics designed to keep motorists safe, including keeping his van on the M4 and away from public or residential areas. As he was disqualified from driving he simply should not have been using a vehicle on the motorway that night. We’ll not tolerate behaviour that puts lives at risk on our roads and any motorist caught driving dangerously will be prosecuted.”
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