A MAN who drove at “breakneck speed” as he led police on a dangerous pursuit through Powys, before crashing his car and fleeing the scene, has been jailed for more than four years.

Guy Charles Christian Bedford left the passenger in the Audi A5 he was driving last October trapped in the car following a 100mph chase that ended with him driving over the top of a roundabout in Crossgates, near Landrindod Wells.

Bedford, 26, briefly escaped but then had to be rescued by firefighters after falling down a ravine.

Bedford, of North Court, Haverfordwest, admitted a string of driving offences at Landrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court last December, including dangerous driving.

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He was at the time subject to a suspended sentence for drugs possession and has also come to the attention of police since, including being charged with supplying cocaine.

Swansea Crown Court on Monday, September 11, heard Bedford’s sentencing had been delayed multiple times due to the more recent drugs offences, which occurred earlier this year.  

Prosecutor Tom Scapens said the driving offences in Powys occurred on the evening of October 25, 2022.

The chase occurred after Dyfed Powys Police officers PC Hellier and Morgan originally pulled Bedford over in Llananno.

“The officers pulled alongside the Audi and got out to ask the driver to turn the engine off,” he said.

“The defendant lunged the car forward and one officer closed the door to avoid being hit. Dash cam footage then caught the defendant driving off and a pursuit ensued.”

Mr Scapens said Bedford was driving at speeds around 80-90mph and that the two officers radioed colleagues to deploy a stinger device in the road ahead.

“The vehicle entered Crossgates, the stinger was successful and deflated three tyres.

“The defendant accelerated hard and was now driving in excess of 100mph, with only one effective tyre. He lost control, tried to brake and came off the other side of the roundabout.

“He destroyed all the signage boards and chevrons, he had gone directly over the roundabout, left the carriageway and crashed into an area of wasteland.”

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Mr Scapens played dashcam footage of the pursuit and said Bedford was nowhere to be seen when officers arrived.

He added: “The defendant was not in the vehicle, in the passenger seat there was another male. He could not get out due to his door jammed shut by fencing. It was clear he wasn’t the driver.

“The defendant could be heard shouting for help from within a wooded area about 40 minutes later. Police located him down a ravine and the fire service had to be called to rescue him.”

Bedford, who suffered superficial injuries, told police he didn’t stop as he didn’t have a driving licence.

His driving was described as “prolonged, persistent and deliberate”. Bedford had also admitted driving without a licence and without insurance. A fourth charge of failing to stop was withdrawn.

Mr Scapens said that in addition to the Powys incident, Bedford admitted possessing cannabis and cocaine in January and February this year.

He was also arrested on a separate date in January and charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, which related to a stop of a vehicle he was a passenger in.

Bedford eventually admitted he had a package concealed in his underwear. Officers strip searched him and discovered 57 grams of cocaine – which was worth an estimated £5,700.

Thomas Roberts, representing Bedford, said his client had been in debt with drug dealers since the age of 16.

“He is a young man and has capacity to change,” said Mr Thomas of Bedford, who has 22 convictions for 43 offences.

“He is proud of 2 things while in custody; he has become a tutor to other inmates and a drug recovery mentor.

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Judge Paul Thomas jailed Bedford for four years and six months in total, of which six months was for dangerous driving.

He will also be disqualified from driving for four years and six months.