Ferndale man jailed after car flips in police chase

A Ferndale man has been jailed after a police pursuit that ended with his vehicle crashing into a stationary digger and flipping onto its side.

Matthew Moulding, 37, from Ferndale in Rhondda Cynon Taf, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving, one count of aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving when he appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 1 August.

The incident took place in December 2024, when officers became aware of a blue Ford EcoSport driving on cloned plates in the Ferndale area. The car was spotted and successfully stung at the junction of Commercial Street and Blaenllachau Road.

Despite the stinger device, the car continued down the hill and attempted to turn into a narrow lane near the rugby club, where Moulding drove into a stationary digger, causing the vehicle to flip onto its side. He was arrested before he could flee the scene.

Moulding was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, 26 September 2025. He was also banned from driving for one year and 11 months.

Police Constable Tranter said: “Moulding showed complete disregard to those around him by driving in such a dangerous manner, this type of driving can have devastating consequences.

“I hope this sentence sends out a strong message, that it is never acceptable to drug drive and that we are always on patrol and could be anywhere.”