Jail for 94mph police chase driver who had cannabis in car

Jenny Parry, 23, who comes from Newtown, had been homeless and living in her car, Mold Crown Court was told.

When police indicated for her to stop she drove off at speed, reaching 94 mph. She was cutting corners and eventually lost control and crashed.

Parry tried to run off but was arrested. She admitted dangerous driving and possessing cannabis and was jailed for five months.

Judge David Hale banned her from driving and ordered her to take an extended driving test.

In view of her chaotic circumstances the court had been asked to impose a suspended prison sentence with no conditions.

But the judge said that would mean she would get away “Scott free.”

Sentencing her, he said that in the absence of any realistic programmes or any information about where she was going to live, he had no option but to lock her up.

“You were driving at speed to get away from the police. When an officer indicated for you to stop, off you go,” Judge Hale said.

It was an old car with no insurance and it “gave up the ghost” and “fell to bits” when she drove quickly around some bends, the court was told.

She had driven 2.9 miles in a bid to get away – much of it on the wrong side of the road or swinging from one side the other.

He said she would be released on licence and she would have to try and sort her life out.

Prosecuting barrister Karl Scholz said that at about midnight on September 28 last year she was in a queue of traffic at red lights on the A483 in Mid Wales when a police officer did a check and found the car was not insured.

He put the blue lights on the car but instead of stopped at a nearby layby the car sped off and drove in the 70s, and 80s in a bid to get away.

At one point the car reached 94.5 mph but she lost control and the car slid off the road and ended up with its back end embedded in a hedge. She tried to run but was arrested.

There was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle.

Defending barrister Gemma Jordan said that the defendant led a chaotic life-style and was homeless.

She had been living in her car but that would have to stop because she would be disqualified from driving.

The defendant would be able to return to her parents’ home in the short term but it was not the long term solution.

She had made enquiries over a council house and she had the offer of a job working with horses.

The driving was over in four minutes.

She had received a suspended sentence previously for possessing cannabis with intent to supply and had not breached that.

Miss Jordan said: “She does want to sort herself out.”