Suspended sentence for driver after 14-mile chase

The judge said it was "deliberate dangerous driving"

A 20-year-old man chased a young couple for 14-miles along winding Anglesey roads, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

The incident happened after an exchange of hand gestures after his Vauxhall Vectra approached a Ford Fiesta on the wrong side of the road near Beaumaris.

Stuart Smith, Llanddona, Anglesey, who admitted dangerous driving, was sentenced to eight-months in prison, suspended for two years.

In addition, he must do 200 hours unpaid work.

The court was told Smith flashed his car lights, tailgated, and tried continually to overtake another vehicle during the pursuit.

Prosecutor Elen Owen said the 18-year-old Fiesta driver reached speeds of 70 mph as he tried to get away from Smith.

'Frightened and crying'

When he slowed, Smith overtook him and appeared to perform a handbrake turn - stopping sideways in front of the Fiesta.

The teenager turned around, accelerated to 80 mph, and decided to head for Menai Bridge using other roads.

When the Vectra appeared behind him again his frightened and crying girlfriend alerted police on a mobile phone.

Officers were waiting for him at Four Crosses roundabout.

Smith also admitted having a knife on his key ring.

Great inconvenience

A night time curfew was imposed for two months, and he has to pay £800 costs.

He was banned for three years and must take another test before driving again.

Judge John Rogers QC told him: "This was a persistent piece of deliberate dangerous driving."

But he added the offence was out of character and the ban would cause great inconvenience, and financial cost, to the defendant who worked for a tyre fitting firm.

Chris Sweetman, defending, said: "There are no injuries, fortunately, for everyone concerned."