An intoxicated driver crashed into a lamppost during a police chase and left his passenger unconscious before running and hiding. He later refused to allow police to take a blood sample for testing.
Johnny Myers, 22, was pursued by police at around 1am on October 12 last year in Cardiff after they tried to pull him over for driving in a suspicious manner. He initially pulled over but revved his engine and sped off on the wrong side of the road when an officer was making his way out of the police vehicle.
A blue Peugeot 207 driven by the defendant was pursued along Cathedral Road towards Western Avenue. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard police lost Myers but he was seen again in Birchgrove and was followed by another officer.
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The dangerous driver then made his way to Heathwood Road at 80mph, in a 30mph zone, but at the junction with Rhyd-y-Penau Road Myers lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a lamppost. Prosecutor Gareth James told the court the defendant ran from the scene of the crash as a woman in the passenger seat collapsed to the floor after getting out of the car.
The woman required hospital treatment but was able to name Myers as the driver. He was found nearby hiding in a block of flats. He refused to provide a sample of breath and later refused to provide a blood specimen, to ascertain whether he was intoxicated.
Myers, of Greenway Road, Rumney, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen. Mr James said the defendant had previous convictions for speeding and had previously been disqualified from driving on two occasions.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender after he failed to turn up to a court hearing on May 20. He had attended Cardiff Crown Court but left before his hearing started after arguing with a member of canteen staff.
Defence barrister Ben Waters said his client went "off the rails" following the untimely death of his father which led to him drinking to excess and taking drugs. He said the defendant admitted at the time of the offences he was "high on various drugs and alcohol". Mr Waters added that Myers had a lack of education after leaving school at the age of 10, but was a father of three who is expecting a fourth child with his new partner.
Sentencing, Recorder Christopher Felstead said: "You put your (passenger) at risk, the police officers following you at risk and anybody who happened to be around at risk." Myers was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and was disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years. He was also ordered to carry out 170 hours unpaid work and a 25 day rehabilitation activity requirement.
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