Terrifying moment teen hijacks a police car and speeds through town at 113mph – before finally crashing into a hedge
THIS is the terrifying moment a teen hijacked a police car and sped through a town at 113mph – before finally crashing into a hedge.
Dafydd Williams, 19, was caught on the cop car’s own dashcam footage trying to flee police on country roads after they tried arresting him for another offence.
Officers had been called to reports of a racist attack on a garage owner and were on their way to apprehend Williams and an accomplice.
They got out of the patrol car to Taser the thug pal when Williams hopped in and sped away.
The teen then raced the vehicle through Machen, south Wales, narrowly passing other motorists with another cop car tailing him.
Williams was already serving a suspended 16-week jail term for thefts and driving while disqualified, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Roger Griffths said the “no words” could adequately describe the terrifying CCTV.
He said: “He mounted the pavement close to pedestrians. He accelerated into a built-up area and drove at up to 90mph in a 30mph area, performing a number of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and contravening road signs.
“He travelled through Machen village at 80mph and at one stage reached 113mph in a 30mph area, swerving from side to side.
“At one point the defendant tried to use a bus stop to undertake a red Honda Jazz, but he collided with its rear at 64mph, causing the Honda to travel across the carriageway and collide head-on with a Nissan travelling in the opposite direction.”
After Williams crashed into the hedge he tried making a run for it but was caught by a police dog.
Cops noticed an “overpowering” smell of alcohol from crook Williams, who appeared “very drunk”, the court heard.
CLOSE CALL
A witness who captured the dashcam footage and was parked nearby at the time, said it was a “close call”.
He said: “We were driving through the lane and I’d decided not to speed up knowing there was a one-vehicle bridge approaching.
“As we came to the corner a police vehicle was in the middle of the road.
“As the police vehicle swerved it lost control and disappeared through the hedge. It was a close call.”
Appearing in court, Williams admitted possession of an offensive weapon, racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated criminal damage, taking a police car without authority, dangerous driving, damaging property, driving while disqualified and unfit through drink with no insurance or licence.
He also had previous convictions for dangerous driving, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and threats to kill.
Richard Ace, mitigating, said: “There is an obvious level of immaturity, not just because he’s 19 but because he’s an immature young man for his age.
“He was introduced to alcohol and drugs when he was barely a teenager. When he was 16 he started offending.”
Judge Recorder Simon Hughes jailed Williams for 92-weeks and banned him from driving for nearly four years.
Speaking after the case, Superintendent Leanne Brustad said: “Dafydd Williams was stopped by officers after he was seen driving dangerously.
“He chose to then take a marked police car, while intoxicated, and put members of the public and road users – many of whom undoubtedly thought he was an officer using the car for its intended purpose in response to an emergency – at direct risk of harm.
“A marked police car is not just something that our officers use to attend emergencies, it is a resource which helps us keep our communities safe.
“Williams’ dangerous behaviour meant that we were unable to use this car, which is funded by the taxpayer, to respond to calls to service while it was repaired.”