29-05-2025
Blackwood rogue driver blasted as ‘complete menace'
Craig Searles, 40, was jailed after he caused two crashes in the Blackwood area.
The defendant committed the second offence whilst he was subject to a suspended prison sentence for growing drugs in Newbridge.
That was imposed two years ago after police found 61 plants with a potential street value of £75,000 in a cellar at a property in the town.
Searles' first driving offence took place on April Fools' Day in 2023 when he hit a grandmother and her passenger with his BMW 118d.
He ploughed into them while speeding at a roundabout in Pontllanfraith and then left the scene after abandoning his car.
The driver sustained a fractured rib and whiplash injuries and her passenger also suffered from whiplash.
The second happened when he crashed into a van while at the wheel of a Fiat Punto when he was high on drugs in Cefn Fforest.
Searles collided with the vehicle on August 8 last year when he had a cocaine derivative in his blood.
The defendant, of Maes Y Garn Road, Oakdale, Blackwood admitted causing serious injury by careless driving and drug driving.
His best mitigation was his guilty pleas, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
Kirsten Murphy representing the father-of-one said: 'The defendant is entirely realistic that he will be receiving an immediate custodial sentence.'
His class A drug use at the time had been 'out of control'.
Miss Murphy added that her client was 'desperate to get his life back on track'.
Judge Paul Hobson told Searles: 'You have an appalling driving record – you have been a complete menace behind the wheel.
'You have three previous convictions for dangerous driving as well as previous convictions for drink driving and driving whilst disqualified.
'On April 1, 2023, you caused serious injuries.'
The defendant was jailed for 18 months and told that the time he has already spent remanded in custody would count towards that sentence.
Searles was banned from driving for 42 months and will have to sit an extended driving test.
He will also have to pay a victim surcharge following his release would could be after serving 40 per cent of the prison term.
