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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
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 ) Article continues below 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". Article continues below 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.
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Wales Online
Video shows moment Welsh police officer crashes into car during high-speed chase
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A police officer is facing a gross misconduct investigation after crashing into an oncoming car while pursuing a suspect vehicle at speed in a van. Constable Phillip Thomas crossed the white lines in the middle of the road as he took a bend at 59mph and struck a car that was travelling in the opposite direction, before hitting a lamppost, a court has heard. The car suffered "extensive damage" after PC Thomas's vehicle collided with it and its driver suffered minor injuries, in the form of cuts and abrasions. Swansea Crown Court heard PC Thomas had passed a police driving course which permitted him to drive at 20mph above the speed limit when necessary, however at the time of the crash he was exceeding the limit by 29mph, reports WalesOnline. The officer - who was removed from frontline policing following the incident - will now be subject to a police disciplinary procedure for gross misconduct. Nik Strobl, prosecuting, told the court that the incident occurred in the early hours of September 29 last year when PC Thomas and a colleague were in a marked police van in Ammanford. He said at 2.20am a white hatchback car outside the Cottage Inn pub drew the attention of officers, and they began to follow it. (Image: CPS Cymru) The court heard that the car initially drove at normal speed but when it reached Ammanford College it accelerated away on the 30mph road - the officers illuminated the blue lights on their Vauxhall Vivaro van and pursued it. The prosecutor said that as the defendant followed the car he took a left-hand bend on Dyffryn Road but under-steered and drifted across the white lines into the middle of the road where he came into contact with a car coming in the opposite direction. He said the car suffered "extensive damage" in the collision but fortunately the female driver did not suffer serious injury, though did attend hospital for checks to be done on her shoulder. The court heard the defendant had passed a police driving course in 2021 which permitted him to drive at 20mph above the speed limit in the course of his duties, but at the time of the collision had been travelling at 59mph in the 30mph zone. Data from the police van showed he had reached a top speed of 68mph during the course of the pursuit. Phillip Thomas, of Dafen, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to careless driving when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions, and at the time of the collision had a clean driving licence. James Hartson, for Thomas, said in the course of pursuing a car which may have held "miscreants" the court may feel it was difficult for the defendant to judge his speed exactly. He said it was a case of "classic under-steer" on a bend in a van not designed to corner at speed which resulted in the defendant "drifting" into the opposite lane. The barrister said his client had been an officer for four years and had received commendations for his police work as well as letters of thanks from members of the public. Judge Paul Thomas KC said that in course of his duties following "potential miscreants" in his police van the defendant had encroached on the central white lines and collided with an oncoming car. He noted in the immediate aftermath of the crash the defendant had been "very apologetic" to the other driver and been "solicitous of her health". The judge said it was clear PC Thomas was a well-regarded officer adding: "I suspect the greatest punishment is the ignominy and embarrassment of an officer appearing in a crown court." The judge noted that the defendant had indicated at magistrates court that he would plead guilty to careless driving but that had been rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service and a charge of dangerous driving was pursued. The matter made its way to crown court where the plea to the lesser charge was subsequently accepted. With a one-third discount for his guilty plea and in accordance with the sentencing guidelines for careless driving Thomas was fined £275 and had six penalty points put on his licence. He will also have to pay a court surcharge of £110. The officer was given 28 days to pay the fine with seven days in prison in default. Speaking after the sentencing, Dyfed-Powys Police superintendent Phil Rowe, head of the force's professional standards department, said: "PC Thomas is a police response driver and had undertaken training, which included following and attempting to stop vehicles with the blue lights illuminated, but his driving on that day fell below the standard expected of an officer trained in such circumstances. It is only proper that he has been held to account for his actions." The force said PC Thomas had been re-deployed from frontline duties since the incident and was subject to a parallel gross misconduct investigation by the professional standards department. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here Find crime figures for your area
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Wales Online
Shocking moment police officer going too fast crashed into oncoming car captured on camera
Shocking moment police officer going too fast crashed into oncoming car captured on camera PC Phillip Thomas 'drifted' into the opposite lane while taking a bend at 59mph in his police van - which was faster than he was trained to drive at on that road A police officer crashed into an oncoming car while pursuing a suspect vehicle at speed in a van, a court has heard. Constable Phillip Thomas crossed the white lines in the middle of the road as he took a bend at 59mph and hit a car coming in the opposite direction before slamming into a lamppost. The car which PC Thomas hit suffered "extensive damage" in the collision and its driver, minor injuries in the form of cuts and abrasions. Swansea Crown Court heard the officer had passed a police driving course which permitted him to drive at 20mph above the speed limit when necessary, but that at the time of the crash he was exceeding the limit by 29mph. The officer - who was removed from frontline policing following the incident - will now be subject to a police disciplinary procedure for gross misconduct. Nik Strobl, prosecuting, told the court that the incident occurred in the early hours of September 29 last year when PC Thomas and a colleague were in a marked police van in Ammanford. He said at 2.20am a white hatchback car outside the Cottage Inn pub drew the attention of officers, and they began to follow it. The court heard that the car initially drove at normal speed but when it reached Ammanford College it accelerated away on the 30mph road - the officers illuminated the blue lights on their Vauxhall Vivaro van and pursued it. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here. Article continues below The prosecutor said that as the defendant followed the car he took a left-hand bend on Dyffryn Road but under-steered and drifted across the white lines into the middle of the road where he came into contact with a car coming in the opposite direction. He said the car suffered "extensive damage" in the collision but fortunately the female driver did not suffer serious injury, though did attend hospital for checks to be done on her shoulder. The police van crashed into a lamppost after colliding with the car (Image: CPS Cymru ) The court heard the defendant had passed a police driving course in 2021 which permitted him to drive at 20mph above the speed limit in the course of his duties, but at the time of the collision had been travelling at 59mph in the 30mph zone. Data from the police van showed he had reached a top speed of 68mph during the course of the pursuit. Phillip Thomas, of Dafen, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to careless driving when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions, and at the time of the collision had a clean driving licence. James Hartson, for Thomas, said in the course of pursuing a car which may have held "miscreants" the court may feel it was difficult for the defendant to judge his speed exactly. He said it was a case of "classic under-steer" on a bend in a van not designed to corner at speed which resulted in the defendant "drifting" into the opposite lane. The barrister said his client had been an officer for four years and had received commendations for his police work as well as letters of thanks from members of the public. Judge Paul Thomas KC said that in course of his duties following "potential miscreants" in his police van the defendant had encroached on the central white lines and collided with an oncoming car. He noted in the immediate aftermath of the crash the defendant had been "very apologetic" to the other driver and been "solicitous of her health". The judge said it was clear PC Thomas was a well-regarded officer adding: "I suspect the greatest punishment is the ignominy and embarrassment of an officer appearing in a crown court". The judge noted that the defendant had indicated at magistrates court that he would plead guilty to careless driving but that had been rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service and a charge of dangerous driving was pursued. The matter made its way to crown court where the plea to the lesser charge was subsequently accepted. With a one-third discount for his guilty plea and in accordance with the sentencing guidelines for careless driving Thomas was fined £275 and had six penalty points put on his licence. He will also have to pay a court surcharge of £110. The officer was given 28 days to pay the fine with seven days in prison in default. Speaking after the sentencing, Dyfed-Powys Police superintendent Phil Rowe, head of the force's professional standards department, said: "PC Thomas is a police response driver and had undertaken training, which included following and attempting to stop vehicles with the blue lights illuminated, but his driving on that day fell below the standard expected of an officer trained in such circumstances. It is only proper that he has been held to account for his actions." The force said PC Thomas had been re-deployed from frontline duties since the incident and was subject to a parallel gross misconduct investigation by the professional standards department. Article continues below
