David Cousins (Image: Gwent Police)
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A 29-year-old who repeatedly ignored his driving ban has been sentenced to 40 weeks in prison at Newport Crown Court.
David Cousins, of Nash Drive, Newport, was also handed a two-year disqualification from driving by Judge Eugene Egan, to take effect upon his release from custody.
Criminal history
The court heard Cousins had been convicted of dangerous driving in August 2024 after leading police on a high-speed pursuit through Newport’s residential streets during the early hours of February 25, 2023.
The father-of-two had recently been released from prison on licence for supplying cocaine when officers spotted him driving erratically. Cousins was attempting to flee because he was carrying class A drugs in his Seat Leon, and he tested positive for drugs at the roadside following his arrest.
He reached speeds of up to 65mph in 30mph zones during what the court described as a prolonged chase through the city.
Cousins was recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his 42-month sentence for the drugs offence.
Recorder David Warner subsequently sentenced him to 32 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, for the dangerous driving, telling the defendant: “Thankfully, no one was hurt by your crazy and dangerous driving.
“You were under an obligation to keep your nose clean and you didn’t, which is an aggravating feature.
“This appears to be an act of complete stupidity.”
Driving while disqualified
Despite that warning, Cousins was caught behind the wheel on three further occasions this year, prosecutor Lucia Cavaliere told the court.
He was first found driving a Ford Fiesta on Chepstow Road on January 28, before being caught in the same vehicle on the A467 on March 11. His third offence came on April 7, when he was detected driving a Volkswagen Polo on Cefn Road.
Cousins entered guilty pleas to driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance. His continued offending placed him in breach of the suspended sentence imposed by Recorder Warner.
Sentence
Judge Eugene Egan sentenced Cousins to 40 weeks’ imprisonment for the latest offences.
