Kit PetersPort Talbot driver jailed after 70mph chase through 20mph zone
Ryan Simon, 33, took a car from an address in Port Talbot on November 21 last year and fitted it with stolen number plates. He also stole items inside the vehicle, including a dash‑cam, a driving licence and cash.
When police approached him the following day, Simon drove off — narrowly avoiding dragging an officer along with the car.
A pursuit began, with Simon hitting speeds of 60mph to 70mph in a 20mph zone, ignoring traffic‑calming measures, running a red light and narrowly avoiding a collision before smashing into an unmarked police car.
He then mounted the kerb, showing what the court heard was a “disregard” for the safety of pedestrians.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Paul Hobson told him: “You could have killed somebody, it’s sheer luck you didn’t do so. The fact you caused only major damage to the vehicle was sheer good fortune.”
Simon, of Kern Close, Sandfields, later admitted aggravated vehicle taking, theft from a motor vehicle, theft, and driving while disqualified.
The court heard he already had a string of previous convictions, including aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, taking vehicles without consent, theft, robbery and burglary.
In mitigation, the court was told Simon had struggled with cocaine use but had been engaging with drug and alcohol programmes while on remand and had been working in the prison kitchen.
He was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for four years and nine months.
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