Church Village Man Jailed After High-speed Police Chase

Road policing officers arrested a disqualified driver following a dramatic pursuit through the streets of Nantgarw last month. 🚓

Dean John, 51, from Church Village, caught the attention of officers on Oxford Street on Sunday April 6, 2025, when he sped past them in a white Peugeot van. When officers signalled for him to pull over, John initially appeared to comply before suddenly accelerating away.

Police reported that John “continued to drive erratically, driving through red lights, swerving over the road and driving at over twice the legal speed limit” during the pursuit.

The chase ended when John drove into a dead end, abandoned his vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. Officers quickly located him hiding in a bush nearby and placed him under arrest. 🚔

John appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court on Tuesday April 8, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to multiple offences including:

• Failing to stop when required by police
• Using a motor vehicle without insurance
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Failure to provide a specimen for analysis
• Driving a motor vehicle dangerously

The court sentenced John to one year in prison and extended his driving disqualification by a further five years.