A DRIVER has been jailed after he led officers on a high speed pursuit through Caerphilly before his car got wedged in a tunnel.

John Paul Jones, 27, of Caerphilly (pictured below) was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, disqualified driving, failing to provide blood sample for analysis and driving without insurance.

South Wales Argus:

In the early hours of June 15, 2016, officers were on patrol when they attempted to stop a vehicle near to Brynhyfryd, Caerphilly, to conduct checks on the car and driver.

The car initially stopped but when officers approached the vehicle it made off. A pursuit of the car then followed as speeds reached 78mph and continued for around seven minutes.

The pursuit came to an end when the vehicle entered The Crescent, Caerphilly and continued down the footpath underneath a railway bridge towards Churchill Park where the car got wedged in the tunnel and blocked the footpath. (pictured below)

South Wales Argus:

Yesterday, Jones was sent to prison and disqualified from driving for four years and nine months.

The officer in the case, PC Matt Richley said: “On 15th June 2016, John Paul Jones, a disqualified driver from the Caerphilly area failed to stop for officers from the West Area Support Unit.

“He proceeded to drive in such a manner that he not only put members of the public at risk but also himself, his passengers and the police.

South Wales Argus:

“The pursuit of John Paul Jones drew to a close in a moment of sheer recklessness and stupidity when he decided to drive down a footpath and get himself wedged in a railway tunnel.

“Upon arrest, John Paul Jones provided a positive reading for cocaine."