A banned and drunk driver from Romsey was caught hiding in some brambles in after he hit a police car as he tried to evade capture.
Prosecutor Megan Williams told Swansea Crown Court that police received a report of a suspected drink-driver in an area of west Wales on the evening of June 22.
A member of the public reported seeing the driver of a grey Peugeot – Callum Darch – urinating next to his car and looking unsteady on his feet, before getting back behind the wheel.
Police on patrol spotted a car matching that description parked near a campsite. When they pulled alongside it, the driver sped off towards Little Haven.
The officers signalled for Darch to pull over, but the defendant ignored them and carried on driving. Ms Williams said the officers had to abandon the chase, but they reported the failure to stop.
Darch was spotted again around an hour later on the B4341, and the police signalled for Darch to stop.
The defendant reversed to try and get away, but temporarily beached his car on a boulder at the side of the road. When he regained traction, he sped off and made “substantial contact” with the officer’s car.
When the officer caught up with Darch, his car was found abandoned in the middle of the road, and it appeared he had crashed into a grass bank of the side of the road.
Darch was arrested after being found hiding amongst some brambles.
Checks revealed Darch was disqualified from driving at the time. He recorded having 54 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Darch, of St Blaize Road in Romsey, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, drink-driving, failing to stop, failing to stop after an accident, and driving without insurance.
The court heard he had seven previous convictions for 12 offences. These included causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop, amongst other offences, after he mounted a pavement whilst unable to see through his frosted windscreen and hit a pedestrian in Romsey on Christmas Day in 2019 before driving off. The pedestrian suffered a broken leg and ankle.
James McKenna, appearing for Darch, acknowledged the mitigation he could provide was “limited”.
Mr McKenna said the defendant pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
“He’s extremely remorseful,” he said.
“He’s here to face the music for the actions he undertook.
“This is another life lesson for this defendant going forward.
“He’s still 26 years of age, so very much needs to grow up.”
Recorder Aidan Eardley KC sentenced Darch to 14 months imprisonment. He was banned from driving for 31 months and must pass an extended driving test to regain his licence.
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