6 days ago
Caerphilly man led police on high-speed chase and stole fuel
Prosecutor Megan Hartson told Cardiff Crown Court that disqualified driver Casey Jackson was being pursued by police in the Rhymney area on April 11, 2022.
The court heard Jackson's Vauxhall Corsa was swerving across both sides of the road, mounted a verge to overtake a lorry on a roundabout, and then crashed through a gate into a sheep field as he headed off-road.
Ms Hartson described his driving as 'erratic' over a 'significant distance', with Jackson reaching speeds of 'over 90mph' on national speed limit roads.
Jackson then ditched his car, but – with the help of a police helicopter – officers found him hiding in an outbuilding.
Days before – on Friday, April 8 – Jackson filled his car up with £75.01 of unleaded petrol at a Texaco garage in Blackwood before he 'sped off wheel spinning' without paying.
And on April 10, he filled up with £50.02 of petrol on High Street in Blackwood, before again driving off without paying.
Jackson was charged with dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop, driving without insurance, and failing to provide a specimen. He was also accused of two offences of making off without payment.
However, he failed to attend court on April 5, 2023, and went on the run until he was apprehended in June this year.
Casey Jackson led police on an erratic high-speed chase. (Image: Gwent Police)
Jackson admitted each of the offences, as well as failing to surrender to the court, on June 11.
Ms Hartson said Jackson had one previous conviction, which was for dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving whilst under the influence in 2018.
As part of his sentence, he had been ordered to take an extended re-test, but he hadn't done so.
William Bebb, mitigating, said 29-year-old Jackson had made 'significant progress off his own back' to rehabilitate himself since the offences were committed.
'He understands what the core reasons for his offending were,' he said.
'He has since achieved abstinence.
'He is somebody who has not offended for quite some time.'
Mr Bebb did, however, acknowledge the defendant had done this 'self-rehabilitation' whilst he was wanted by police.
Addressing the fuel thefts, Mr Bebb said: 'The reason for the initial offending was to conserve more money for drug use.'
Judge Eugene Egan described the defendant's driving as 'appalling' and 'extremely reckless'.
'Your attitude to court orders is particularly dismal,' he said.
'I simply cannot deal with your case with anything other than an immediate sentence.'
Jackson, of Nursery Crescent in Rhymney, was sentenced to a total of 20 months, and was banned from driving for four years and 10 months. He will have to pass an extended re-test to regain his licence.
