13 June 2023 , 09:45
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A teenager hijacked a police car during a chase before driving at 113mph in a 30mph zone - but was eventually tracked down by a police dog.
Dafydd Williams had racially abused a garage owner before striking him with a crowbar prior to the pursuit, a court heard.
The 19-year-old thug had demanded Rebin Abdulla Ibrahim change a tyre on his friend's red Citroen C3 Picasso while brandishing the weapon.
He told him: "Do you want to help or I'll kill you."
He also told him: "You're not allowed to work here, I'll send you back to your country."
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Williams was in the car's passenger seat during the incident on April 8 on St Cenydd Road, Caerphilly, Wales.
Mr Ibrahim had heard glass smashing and metal banging at a neighbouring garage around 3.45pm, opting to close early out of fear of being targeted.
Williams and his friend then pulled him.
Dafydd Williams, 19, has been jailed (Media Wales)The garage owner told the pair he couldn't help, resulting in the defendant swinging the bar and striking Mr Ibrahim's left shoulder, reports WalesOnline.
Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told Cardiff Crown Court: "He then hit Mr Ibrahim with the end of the crowbar in a stabbing motion, with a lot of force."
Williams told Mr Ibrahim: "If you don't give me help, you need to give me £100 or I'll kill you."
The garage owner said he did not have £100, to which Williams replied: "I'll f*** you back off to your country. You aren't allowed to stay."
He then ripped a rear wiper off a customer's Audi A3.
Mr Ibrahim had by coincidence just received a call from police about another matter. While his iPhone was against his ear, Williams swung the crowbar and smashed the device.
Williams chased Mr Ibrahim with the crowbar, breaking the windscreen and wing mirror of a customer's Ford Fiesta while shouting: "F*** you P***. Why you running out?"
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He used the crowbar to strike Mr Ibrahim's lower back but the garage owner managed to run to a nearby police vehicle. He was not injured although he had some soreness.
Williams and his acquaintance left in the Citroen but shortly afterwards a police officer saw the car travelling through Bedwas and gave chase.
Williams sped at 113mph, leaving a trail of destruction (Media Wales)The Citroen had two flat tyres and the officer did not take long to catch it. Williams' acquaintance made off on foot and the officer used a Taser to detain him.
Meanwhile Williams, carrying a bottle of alcohol, walked unsteadily towards the marked police car, a high-performance Skoda Superb.
With the officer preoccupied by the arrest, Williams got behind the wheel of the police car and reversed away quickly.
Mr Griffiths told the judge: "Your honour, I will now play the CCTV footage of the dangerous driving because no words can adequately describe it."
Williams sped through residential streets and at one stage found his way blocked by an unmarked police car, but reversed and drove around it.
"He mounted the pavement close to pedestrians," said Mr Griffiths.
"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."
Williams continued to speed, almost colliding with another vehicle and forcing others to pull over to avoid a crash. As he travelled along a narrow country lane, he had to swerve to avoid a Ford Focus.
Williams moved along the top of a hedgerow and drove into a field, where he stopped and tried to run away but was caught by a police dog.
The case was heard at Cardiff Crown Court (Media Wales)Police noticed an "overpowering" smell of alcohol emanating from Williams, who appeared "very drunk".
After his arrest an attempted test of Williams' blood alcohol level was aborted because he refused to comply.
Williams later admitted possession of an offensive weapon, racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated criminal damage, taking a police car without authority, dangerous driving, damaging property, and driving while disqualified and unfit through drink with no insurance or licence.
The defendant, of Islwyn Road in Wattsville, was already under a suspended 16-week jail term for thefts and driving while disqualified.
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.
"His upbringing has had some difficulties, which is not to criticise his mother, who is supporting him in court today.
"He was introduced to alcohol and drugs when he was barely a teenager. When he was 16 he started offending.
"His first prison sentence is a good result because he realises he has to do something to get out of this entrenched behaviour. But it should not be a custodial sentence of the type that would lose hope for him as a young man.
"He knows he has to be in prison. He understands his driving, in particular, could have killed somebody, not just himself but other road users.
"The racial element of his behaviour is startling to him, given that [as a member of the traveller community] he has lived his whole life facing those kinds of threats. He can't believe he said it."
The judge, Recorder Simon Hughes, said it was more by luck than judgement that no one was injured from Williams' "shocking" behaviour.
He took account of the defendant's difficult childhood and young age, adding: "I will not pass a sentence which crushes all hope for you."
Recorder Hughes imposed a 92-week prison sentence and a driving ban of three years and 46 weeks. Williams must pass an extended test before he can drive again.
Superintendent Leanne Brustad, head of Gwent roads policing, said: “Dafydd Williams was stopped by officers after he was seen driving dangerously in the Caerphilly area.
"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.”