80mph driver went on wrong side of dual carriageway and through red lights after 'stupid decision'
80mph driver went on wrong side of dual carriageway and through red lights after 'stupid decision'
A judge said it was 'a miracle' that nobody was killed by Brandon Silk's 'frankly appalling' driving
A driver who had taken cocaine and cannabis "did everything he could" to escape from police as he led officers on a high-speed pursuit, a court has heard.
Brandon Silk hit speeds of 80mph during the chase, went through multiple red lights, raced along residential streets, and drove along the wrong side of the dual carriageway outside Swansea Prison as he tried to flee.
A judge at Swansea Crown Court described Silk's driving as "frankly appalling" and said it was "a miracle" that nobody had been seriously injured or killed as a result. The 23-year-old's barrister told the court her client was "deeply ashamed" of his behaviour.
Alexandra Wilson, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of October 10 last year firearms officers on routine patrol in Swansea city centre signalled for a Nissan Juke vehicle being driven along Oystermouth Road to pull over.
She said instead of stopping, the driver of the Juke accelerated away and a police pursuit of the vehicle was authorised.
Silk is pictured driving the wrong way along West Way in Swansea
(Image: CPS Cymru )
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The court heard that a short time later an officer in an unmarked car in Neath Road spotted the Nissan and joined the pursuit, following the fleeing car as it sped through the residential streets of Hafod before heading towards Dyfatty and taking Cwm Road where it hit speeds of 70mph.
Silk then turned right onto Llangyfelach Road before taking Pentre Mawr Road heading back towards Hafod, where he took the dedicated Hafod bus route into the city centre at speeds touching 80mph.
The prosecutor said Silk then sped down High Street and The Strand and turned right onto Oystermouth Road - going through multiple red lights at junctions along the way.
Silk going through a red light at the junction of Clarence Street and West Way
(Image: CPS Cymru )
The defendant then crossed onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway and sped past Swansea Prison before turning right and effectively doing laps through the residential area of Sandfields.
The prosecutor said the pursuit came to an end in Dilwyn Street as Silk headed for The Kingsway - an area the prosecutor said was busy with students at the time - where police cars boxed the Nissan in. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
The court heard that Silk tested positive for cannabis and cocaine at the scene and subsequent blood tests showed the presence of cocaine at the level of 130mg per litre of blood and cannabis at the level of 77mg per litre, the legal limits being 50mg and 2mg respectively for the drugs.
Silk driving between bollards in Hafod
(Image: CPS Cymru )
When searched he was found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis. The defendant answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview.
Brandon Silk, of Caernarvon Way, Bonymaen, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, two counts of drug-driving, and possession of cannabis when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions.
Georgia Donohue, for Silk, said the driving before the court could only be described as "reckless and stupid" and said the defendant was "deeply ashamed" of what he did.
She said on the night in question her client had "lost control of his emotions" following an argument about his late father and took the "stupid decision" to consume drugs and drive, "something he will regret for the rest of his life".
Silk driving down the wrong side of Oystermouth Road towards Swansea Prison
(Image: CPS Cymru )
The barrister said Silk had struggled to manage his attention deficit hyper-activity disorder since childhood and had been self-medicating with cannabis, and she said the events of October 10 had been a wake-up call for him.
Recorder Christopher Felstead told the defendant his driving had been "frankly appalling" and said it was a "miracle" that nobody had been seriously injured or even killed as a result of it.
He said Silk drove at speeds of up to 80mph, went through numerous red lights, "flew across junctions", drove on the wrong side of the road, and travelled at "huge speeds" through residential streets as he "did everything he could to escape" from police.
The recorder said the offending clearly crossed the custody threshold and the only real question for the court was whether the prison sentence had to be served immediately.
He said the decision was "very finely balanced" but said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and, on balance, he was prepared to give Silk "the benefit of the doubt".
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With one-third discounts for his guilty pleas Silk was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months and was made the subject of a mental health treatment requirement and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course.
The defendant was banned from driving for three years and must pass an extended driving test before he can get a licence.
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