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A disqualified driver who led police on a car chase almost caused a head-on collision by speeding the wrong way around a roundabout.

Lawrence Hill jumped out of the driver’s seat while the vehicle was still moving and tried to run away from the officer by sprinting off into a field.

Speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, his barrister Timothy Evans said: “He realises it was a ridiculous thing to do.”

The court heard the police officer was on patrol on Ffordd Pengam in Cardiff at around 8pm on April 4 when he spotted the defendant driving a silver Fiat Bravo.

Lowri Wynn Morgan, prosecuting, said: “He noticed that vehicle as it appeared to be accelerating away from him.”

(Image: South Wales Police)

The court heard Hill exceeded the 30mph speed limit as he drove towards Pengam Green and Beckgrove Close.

Ms Wynn Morgan said: “The officer illuminated his blue lights. The vehicle failed to stop when required and began to accelerate away.”

The officer called the control room to say he was pursuing the vehicle and followed Hill on to Sterling Close.

Prosecutors said the defendant accelerated to 40mph and overtook dangerously before nearly causing a head-on collision.

Ms Wynn Morgan told the court: “He drove around the roundabout the wrong way. He narrowly missed a vehicle coming towards him.”

The police officer followed him into Hind Close, a cul-de-sac, where the defendant tried to get away.

The prosecutor said: “While the vehicle was still moving, he left the driver’s seat. The vehicle crashed into a parked BMW.

“The defendant ran to a field nearby and the officer gave chase. He managed to handcuff him and put him in the rear of the police vehicle.”

A check on the Police National Computer system revealed Hill was disqualified from driving and the number plate on display actually corresponded to a vehicle in Essex.

In his police interview he said he “panicked” when he was asked to stop and “just wanted to get out of the car”.

Prosecutors said he had been before the courts for 42 previous offences, including four of driving while disqualified and four of driving without insurance.

He was disqualified from driving until June 2022.

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Hill, 30, from Ton-Yr-Ywen Avenue in Heath, admitted driving dangerously while disqualified without a licence, failing to stop and fraudulently altering registration marks.

Mr Evans, defending, said he was trying to work hard to earn money to support his partner, two young children, father and siblings, but had a problem travelling to work.

He stressed his client apologised immediately and made full admissions to everything.

Referring to the collision with the BMW on the driveway, Judge Nicola Jones said: “I do not need to tell you what could have happened had there been young children there.”

She pointed out the car’s owner could have been in a different position on the driveway and said there were “many near misses” during the offending.

The judge said: “You have flagrantly breached and not complied with almost all orders which have been imposed on you previously. There is a pattern of similar previous repeat offending.”

Hill was jailed for 16 months and disqualified from driving for five years from the time of his release. He must sit an extended driving test before being allowed behind the wheel.