A NEWPORT teenager who breached a suspended sentence following a high-speed police pursuit has been sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institute.

Harry Cook, aged 19, of Cumberland Road, had previously pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and a dangerous driving charge at Cardiff Crown Court on June 4. He had been on bail for the offence.

Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday how Cook had been driving his black Volkswagen Golf on Somerton Road in Newport at around 10pm on May 18 of this year.

PC Merrick, an advanced police motorist and an expert in tactical pursuit, had been driving on the road at the same time.

The manner of Cook’s driving grabbed his attention and he followed him. He was second in the queue at traffic lights at Somerton Road and attempted to pull up beside him in a bid to stop him taking off.

As he did so, PC Merrick attempted to get Cook’s attention, but he tried to hide his face by scratching it. PC Merrick then turned on his blue lights, before Cook went through the red traffic light and turned left at Chepstow Road.

A chase began onto Beechwood Road, with Cook reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour in a residential area with a 30-mile speed limit.

To avoid detection, Cook turned off the lights of his car and parked it but a police helicopter tracked the car, which had been discovered in an industrial area of the city near the River Usk.

Cook, now on foot, was eventually found by dog handlers by the riverbank. Out of breath, he maintained that he had “not done anything” before being arrested.

When told of PC Merrick’s credentials in his police interview, as an advanced police motorist, Cook replied, “he ain’t that advanced if he didn’t catch the criminal”.

The court heard that Cook had six previous convictions for 11 offences and on June 6 last year was handed a 24-week suspended sentence for driving without due care and attention.

Defending, Scott Bowen said: “He was immature and did not appreciate the serious consequences of his actions.

“He accepts responsibility.”

Summing up, Judge Stephen Hopkins said: “Miraculously no one was injured from your lunatic driving.

“Your police interview was evidence of your total arrogance.”

He issued a 16-month sentence at a young offenders institute for the dangerous driving charge; a four-month concurrent sentence for driving whilst disqualified; and a four-month consecutive sentence for breach of the suspended sentence.

Cook will be disqualified from driving for three years and will have to pass an extended driving test. He will also have to pay costs of £900 and a victim surcharge of £100.