A high-speed police car chase through the centre of Ammanford that spiralled out of control was the result of an intoxicated driver who, just 15 minutes earlier, had threatened to drive over a cliff.

This week Swansea Crown Court heard that at around 5pm on August 1, 2021, the father of Nathan Lee Jeffries claimed his son had threatened to drive his Fiat car over a cliff.

Fifteen minutes later a member of the public contacted police officers to say that a man who appeared to be drunk was getting into a car outside the Smiths Arms near Cross Hands.

Police located Jeffries’ car near Cefneithin but, once the defendant spotted the blue flashing lights, he raced off at speeds of 70mph.

READ MORE:

The 29-year-old welder led the officers on a high-speed chase through Cross Hands, Capel Hendre and on towards Ammanford.

He was seen to take blind bends on the wrong side of the road and forced oncoming vehicles to take evasive action.

He sped through red lights and junctions without stopping and collided with the rear end of a car that was travelling in front of him.

Eventually he hit a telegraph pole and attempted to run away. However he was apprehended by officers in a nearby garden and refused to provide a breath test.

At the time, Jeffries had 12 points on his driving licence but had not been disqualified under the totting-up system, and was also on bail having been arrested on suspicion of drug-driving three months earlier.

This week Jeffries, of Dyffryn Road, Ammanford appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop when required to do so and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Representing the defendant Hannah George said that in May 2021 Jeffries had experienced an event which dragged him back to incidents from his childhood, and this led to his dependence upon alcohol as a coping mechanism.

She said matters then 'spiralled out of control' when he lost his job and had problems in his relationship.

After hearing the evidence, the court Recorder sentenced Jeffries to 12 months in prison suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and do 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for three years, and must pass an extended test before his licence will be renewed.