**Police Officer Injured After Serial Burglar Smashes Stolen Car Into Roadblock in Merthyr Tydfil**
A police officer was left injured in a dramatic confrontation with a serial burglar, after the man deliberately crashed a stolen vehicle into a police roadblock during a desperate attempt to evade capture in Merthyr Tydfil. The suspect behind this dangerous escapade, 42-year-old Carl Dudley, has now received a prison sentence following a harrowing night of criminal activity that also brought fear to a local family.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of 29 March, when Dudley, whose criminal record lists more than 120 offences, targeted a family home in Merthyr Tydfil. Using a stone to shatter a ground-floor window at approximately 4am, he gained entry to the property, where a couple and their two young children were asleep upstairs. The father, awoken by a noise, spotted the intruder from the staircase and shouted a warning. In response, Dudley swiftly left the house the same way he had entered, vanishing into the night, but not empty-handed.
Making off with the keys to both the family’s Audi A5 and Hyundai i30, as well as the house keys, Dudley continued his morning by taking off in the Hyundai. Police, alerted to the burglary, spotted him driving erratically around Merthyr Tydfil at around 9.30am. Witness accounts and police statements described Dudley’s driving as “dangerous and erratic,” heightening the risk to the public.
To halt the fleeing suspect, officers deployed a “Stinger” device – a tool designed to deflate car tyres. Although the device struck the Hyundai, it did little to slow Dudley’s escape. Further police intervention saw a marked vehicle block his path; however, rather than surrender, Dudley attempted to swerve around the blockade and collided with the police vehicle at speed. The force of the crash was significant, triggering the police car’s airbags and causing substantial damage to both vehicles.
Tragically, the officer inside the patrol car sustained injuries – specifically to his back and left hand, with the latter reportedly still causing pain and swelling more than seven weeks after the incident. Dudley was immediately arrested at the scene, offering little resistance and expressing remorse for his actions. In statements to officers, he reportedly said, “I am sorry. I want to go back to prison. I have done the burglary, I will get two years but only serve half.”
Soon after his arrest, Dudley was charged with burglary, aggravated vehicle-taking, and driving without a licence or insurance. In addition to those charges, he admitted to using a stolen bank card in a separate fraud incident at a Cardiff garage, where he purchased cigarettes. His lengthy criminal record already included numerous burglaries and convictions related to vehicle theft.
During sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Dudley’s barrister, Martha Smith-Higgins, suggested that her client’s actions were fuelled by a long-standing drug addiction rooted in traumatic early life experiences. She claimed that since entering custody, Dudley had gained some insight into the impact of his actions, penning an apology letter to his victims and assisting police in locating stolen car keys, though one set remains missing.
Judge Shomon Khan acknowledged Dudley’s troubled past but was compelled to stress the seriousness of the offence and the distress caused to the innocent family, remarking, “Everyone wants to feel safe in their own home.” Reflecting both the gravity of the crime and Dudley’s repeat offending, Judge Khan sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment and imposed a driving ban exceeding five years. Before regaining his licence, Dudley will be required to pass an extended driving test.
This incident has reignited concerns in the Merthyr Tydfil community about the persistent threat of burglary and vehicle crime, and has underscored the risks frontline officers face when protecting the public. Local police have reiterated their commitment to robustly tackling such offences, while support has been extended to the affected officer during his ongoing recovery.
As the community reflects on this alarming episode, it stands as a stark reminder of the importance of both vigilance and strong deterrence in combating repeat offending – and of the vital service police officers provide, often at significant personal risk.