A TEENAGE dangerous driver without a licence who reached a speed of 113mph during a police chase through a Gwent town is behind bars.

Jack Saunders, 19, sped through hospital grounds at 40mph, narrowly avoided crashing his Ford Fiesta into other vehicles and ignored red lights.

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Newport Crown Court heard how Saunders had put other road users’ safety in jeopardy during a lengthy high speed pursuit through Pontypool last month.

The defendant wasn’t even allowed on the roads after his provisional licence was revoked following his conviction for a number of driving offences.

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Nik Strobl, prosecuting, said the defendant was followed by a police officer in an unmarked car after he was spotted driving illegally on the A4043.

Saunders refused to stop after the blue lights were illuminated by the officer at around 9pm on Wednesday, August 18.

The defendant reached a speed of 113mph at one point and went through built up areas at twice the 30mph limit.

The judge, Recorder David Harris, told him: “You nearly caused a collision and at the speeds you were driving at it would have had serious consequences for those involved.

“You drove through a red light, you went through a junction at speed and you overtook a vehicle on a bend.

“Your foot must have been pressed down to the floor of the accelerator.

“You drove through hospital grounds at 40mph.”

He added: “You put other road users at risk of injury and harm.”

Saunders, of Glosters Parade, New Inn, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

The teenager was sentenced to a community order in July following an incident at the car park in Morrisons in Cwmbran in May.

He was convicted of driving without due care and attention, possession of an offensive weapon – a knuckleduster, possession of cannabis and public disorder.

Martha Smith-Higgins, mitigating, said: “It is extremely fortunate that no injury was caused.

“The defendant is devastated at the way he acted and the position he’s placed himself in.

“There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in this case and he’s motivated to turn things around.”

Recorder Harris sent Saunders to a young offender institution for 10 months and banned him from driving for two years and five months.

He was also ordered to pay a £156 victim surcharge following his release from custody.