### Drugged Driver Led Police on 120mph Chase Before Crashing in Cwmbran
A man whose driving licence had only recently been reinstated has been jailed after he led police on a high-speed pursuit through Cwmbran before losing control and ploughing into a lamppost. The driver, who was under the influence of both cocaine and cannabis at the time, narrowly avoided causing serious harm to a group of bystanders during the incident.
Craig Peacock, 35, of Clarence Place, Newport, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for a string of driving offences. The court heard that on 11 April, Peacock was spotted by officers behind the wheel of a Peugeot 307, travelling at 50mph in a 30mph residential zone in Cwmbran. When police signalled for him to stop, Peacock instead surged away from the scene, prompting officers to give chase.
According to evidence presented in court, Peacock quickly accelerated once on the A4042, where he hit speeds of up to 120mph as he overtook multiple vehicles. Prosecutor Ben Jones told the court how the pursuit ended in dramatic fashion near the Crow’s Nest pub, with Peacock striking a lamppost at an estimated 80mph. The force of the crash left the vehicle heavily damaged, but remarkably, the driver managed to climb free from the wreck and flee the scene on foot.
Despite his attempt to evade capture, officers soon apprehended Peacock in the immediate aftermath. A roadside drugs wipe conclusively showed he had recently consumed both cocaine and cannabis. He was subsequently taken to the Grange University Hospital for treatment for cuts to his arms sustained in the collision. While there, a breathalyser test established he was not over the alcohol limit, yet he refused to provide a blood sample to further assess drug impairment, citing the injuries to his arms.
Peacock formally admitted to charges of dangerous driving, driving while under the influence of drugs, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. The court heard this was not his first brush with the law. In fact, he holds several prior convictions for driving-related offences and had previously failed to comply with a court-ordered community programme following a conviction for drug driving the year before.
Speaking in mitigation, Jac Brown, defending, acknowledged that Peacock had been drinking earlier that day. Brown suggested that his client panicked upon seeing police lights given that he had only recently regained his licence, and acted out of a misplaced desire to keep it by fleeing from law enforcement.
During sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands made it clear how close the incident had come to ending in tragedy, noting that the defendant’s actions had put the lives of pedestrians at grave risk. “It almost certainly would have been a fatal or serious injury collision,” the judge remarked, highlighting the recklessness of driving at such excessive speeds under the influence, especially through urban areas.
For his actions, Peacock received a custodial sentence of 14 months. He has also been disqualified from driving for a period of three years and seven months, effectively keeping him off the roads for the foreseeable future.
This case comes amid ongoing concerns about drug driving and the dangers posed by motorists who disregard both the law and public safety. The outcome serves as a stark reminder of both the potential consequences of such behaviour and the judiciary’s stance on repeat offenders.
The near-miss in Cwmbran underscores the importance of vigilance by both law enforcement and the courts in tackling dangerous driving. The sentencing is likely to reassure residents and serve as a warning to others contemplating similar risks behind the wheel.