3 days ago
Welshpool man banned from driving after police chase
An "absolute menace on the road" who has never held a full licence has been banned from driving for two years after a police chase near Welshpool.
A hired Nissan Juke driven by Troy Cummings was later found abandoned near the former Oldford Infant School on May 6, and the keys were recovered from under the 20-year-old's duvet.
Cummings, who also goes by the surname Manuel, pleaded guilty to driving the hire vehicle without a licence and insurance on May 6 when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court with his bags packed.
Prosecutor Helen Tench told the court that the vehicle had been hired by Alan Wilson to take a mutual friend to Oswestry.
But when Cummings became stranded in the Shropshire town, he contacted Mr Wilson who allegedly permitted him to drive the hire vehicle back to Welshpool"provided he did not get caught".
The court heard that Cummings was driving with an expired provisional licence which had 15 penalty points, but there had been "a lot of confusion" after Cummings was able to have a second licence and accumulated six points in 2023. He had previously been disqualified from driving for six months.
Cummings' solicitor Gurleen Kaur told the court that her client was "stranded" in Oswestry, and a friend had given him permission to drive the hire vehicle.
"The defendant felt he had no choice but to drive home to ensure his friend did not breach his curfew," Ms Kaur explained.
"In hindsight, he should not have done what he did, and he is remorseful, but he felt it was necessary to drive home."
Ms Kaur added: "He has expressed his remorse for his actions and stated that he will think much better about other options and avenues in future."
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The chair of the magistrates' bench, Nicholas Powell, said: "You are a menace on the roads; an absolute menace accumulating all these points. Why are you in this situation?"
"For being stupid," Cummings replied.
Mr Powell then warned the 20-year-old that he will be a "marked man" by police.
"Any police patrol car seeing you driving will have you straight away because from today they know that you are banned from driving for two years until you can get a licence in your hands," Mr Powell added.
Cummings, of Oldford Rise, Welshpool, who already owes West Mercia Police £2,534 and Dyfed-Powys Police more than £1,450, was ordered to pay the court a further £253.
"These are vast amounts of money you've been accumulating; they've got to be paid off," the chair said.
