A man who was stopped for driving while ineligible for the fourth time was given a jail sentence after a high-speed chase with the police.
Matthew Woody-Jones rammed four Gwent Police cars as he tried to run across the Prince of Wales Bridge, which connects Wales and England.
In court, he claimed that he escaped at speeds of between 60 and 80 mph because he chose to be detained in England’s jail system over Wales’ because it was closer to his home.
Woody-Jones, 34, had 33 convictions for 68 violations in addition to his three prior convictions for operating a vehicle when disqualified.
The father was banned from driving at the time of the incident on the M4 which took place in the early hours of April 6.
Woody-Jones’s silver Ford Transit van was caught on police dashcam footage weaving across lanes during the 12-mile pursuit.
Officers tried to stop him with their blue lights on a number of times but he refused to pull over, driving dangerously towards Newport and the Prince of Wales Bridge.
The driving conditions were dark and wet and while police tried to box Woody-Jones in, he continued to escape by abruptly reversing and trying to drive the wrong way across the bridge.
Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins told Cardiff crown court: ‘The van then slammed its brakes on during the course of the stretch of the Prince of Wales Bridge before attempting to drive the wrong way.
‘Officers reversed to block the van, but as they did so this defendant drove forward again.
‘As he did, he collided with a number of police cars as he made off.’
In total Woody-Jones, a renderer from Bedminster, Bristol, caused £56,416.58 worth of damage to four police cars.
In his defence, Rhodri Chudleigh said Woody-Jones was suffering with stress after the rent on his family home increased by £500 a month – and he ‘panicked’ when he saw the police cars due to his previous convictions.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and causing criminal damage to the four vehicles.
On Monday he was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment by Recorder Andrew Hammond.
Woody-Jones was also banned from driving for an additional two years and eight months after his release from prison.
Mr Hammond said: ‘You placed these police officers in a desperately dangerous situation through the way in which you drove where they had to take controlled but drastic action to bring this pursuit to an end.
‘It’s striking that South Wales is indeed fortunate to have officers of such skill and courage who are willing to put themselves very much in harm’s way to protect the public from people like you.
‘You displayed a complete disregard for the safety of those officers and other road users and drove in a way which truly was dangerous.
‘This offence has caused significant damage to four police vehicles totalling in excess of £55,000 worth of damage.
‘And of course, resulting in those four police vehicles needing to be taken off the road while they are repaired and therefore not available for police duties.’
Superintendent Mike Richards said: ‘Matthew Woody-Jones drove dangerously on the M4, placing other road users directly at risk through his reckless actions.
‘He refused to stop several times for officers when instructed to do so and was eventually brought to a halt on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
‘Officers following his van used several tactics designed to keep motorists safe, including keeping his van on the M4 and away from public or residential areas.
‘As he was disqualified from driving, he simply should not have been using a vehicle on the motorway that night.
‘We’ll not tolerate behaviour that puts lives at risk on our roads and any motorist caught driving dangerously will be prosecuted.’