THIS IS the moment a man decided to ram his van into a police vehicle in an attempt to escape from them.
Andrew Smith of Main Road, Broughton appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, October 31.
The 35-year-old previously, at Mold Magistrates Court on October 10, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle dangerously, driving whilst disqualified, using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance, failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle when required by constable/traffic warden and being the driver of a vehicle involved in a road accident and failing to report that accident.
The incident in question took place on September 22 when Smith was already subject to a 46-month driving ban imposed upon him in November 21 - meaning he shouldn't have been driving until September 2025.
However, on that day, North Wales Police received information about a silver Ford Transit van, which was believed to have cloned numberplates on it making its way towards Dobshill in Flintshire.
Two police officers intercepted the vehicle - which was being driven by Smith - at the Costa drive-thru at Dobshill services, the court heard, blocking the van's exit as it was in the queue.
As they attempted to apprehend the defendant, he drove at speed towards the police vehicle, colliding with the front near side and causing 'significant damage to it.
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Smith, who had a passenger with him at the time, was said to have revved the engine to try and move the empty police car out of the way.
He then made off on foot and, after a short foot chase, the police lost him.
The vehicle was seized by police who checked the registration and discovered that it came back to a different Ford van that was insured to the defendant.
Smith was then arrested at his home the following evening before admitting to all counts at interview.
Mr Parry said that one of the officers had 'just got out of the police vehicle' at the point Smith began ramming it.
Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced Smith to 12 months in jail for the dangerous driving charge and he faced no separate penalty for the other charges against him.
He was also disqualified from driving for a further 30 months and will need to take an extended test before being able to drive again.
The video above, shared by North Wales Police, shows the extent of the impact caused by Smith.
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