Corey Eaves (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 26 seconds ago
A man who stole his friend’s partner’s car and led police on a dangerous high-speed pursuit has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Corey Eaves, 28, of Gilfach Goch, drove at four times the speed limit on residential roads as officers chased him through Tonyrefail, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
The pursuit
The stolen Nissan Juke was first spotted by police shortly before 1am on April 26 and located again at around 2.30am, when officers followed it for a short distance before it stopped.
Two police vehicles moved in to box Eaves in, but he reversed into one of them – causing £7,000 worth of damage – before fleeing down an alleyway.
Officers activated their blue lights and gave chase. Prosecutor James Evans told the court Eaves drove at excessive speeds along narrow lanes before turning into Gilfach Road, Tonyrefail, without stopping.
He hit 80mph in a 20mph zone. A stinger device was deployed in an attempt to bring the vehicle to a halt, but Eaves continued driving.
The car eventually stopped and Eaves attempted to escape on foot before being caught by officers. A breath test returned a reading of 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath – significantly over the legal limit of 35 micrograms. He was also found to be a disqualified driver.
The car theft
The court heard Eaves had been staying at the address of Chloe Smith. In the early hours he took the keys to her Nissan Juke and drove it away from the property, making a “vulgar gesture” towards her as he left.
Further offending
Just two days before the pursuit, Eaves went to Mill Street petrol station in Tonyrefail – premises he had been banned from – and stole a 10-pack of Carlsberg cans worth £11.29.
Sentencing
Eaves pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, drink driving, driving whilst disqualified, and theft from a shop. The court heard he has a number of previous convictions.
In mitigation, Elin Morgan said her client had been a user of class A drugs but had completed a number of courses while in prison and provided negative drug tests. The barrister said the defendant has two young children.
Sentencing, Judge Eugene Egan said: “The manner of your driving was utterly disgraceful.”
Eaves was jailed for 16 months and disqualified from driving for four years upon his release from prison.
