By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-18 13:50:32 | Updated at 2026-09-19 13:13:53
23 hours ago
Watch the moment a fast-thinking police officer flags down a passing Nissan Micra to ask for a lift in pursuit of a dangerous driver.
Incredible bodycam footage captured the moment a South Wales police officer hitches a ride with a passerby to track down the criminal, who he had been chasing down on foot.
The incident began when officers on routine patrol in Abercwmboi detected a strong smell of cannabis emanating from a van Jacob Roberts, 25 was behind the wheel of.
Rather than pulling over when signalled to stop, he accelerated away, sparking a pursuit that would see him endanger pedestrians, collide with multiple vehicles, and ram a police car twice.
During the pursuit, he deliberately struck the police vehicle behind him on two occasions. He also ploughed into stationary cars and collided with a building.
The chase eventually came to an end when Roberts turned into a cul-de-sac, abandoned his vehicle, and attempted to escape on foot.
Body cam footage captured during the pursuit revealed the moment the officer jumped into the passenger seat of a woman's red Nissan Micra.
The driver simply asked "Where to?", before ferrying the officer to where he needed to be, at which point he leapt out and resumed the chase on foot.
A South Wales police officer hitched a ride with a passerby in her car to catch a nearby dangerous driver
SOUTH WALES POLICE
With the assistance of the passing member of the public who offered a lift, they were able to catch up with Roberts. He was subsequently detained at the scene and placed under arrest.
A search of Roberts following the arrest uncovered two cannabis cigarettes.
At Merthyr Crown Court, Roberts entered guilty pleas to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop following a road traffic collision, criminal damage, and possession of cannabis, a class B controlled substance.
The court heard that Roberts drove in a wildly erratic fashion after fleeing from officers, reaching excessive speeds and blowing through several junctions without stopping.
Jacob Roberts has been sentenced for a number of driving related offences
SOUTH WALES POLICE
His reckless driving also saw him mount pavements, placing pedestrians in serious danger.
Passing sentence, Judge Jeremy Jenkins told Roberts: "Only custodial sentences can be justified for this type of behaviour. No other sentence is appropriate or commensurate with this level of offending."
The judge added: "You are a very very serious accident waiting to happen."
Judge Jenkins also noted that this would be Roberts's first time in custody, stating: "Hopefully in custody you will realise and come to your senses that you cannot go on behaving in this manner."
The officer flagged down the passing car to ask for a lift to catch the criminal
SOUTH WALES POLICE
Alongside the 14-month term for dangerous driving, Roberts received concurrent sentences of eight weeks for uninsured driving, six weeks for failing to stop, and four weeks for cannabis possession.
No separate penalty was imposed for criminal damage, though his licence was endorsed.
Roberts was additionally banned from driving for three years and seven months and will be required to pass an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel again.
PC Peter Kerswell of South Wales Police said: "Roberts was already banned from driving when he committed these offences, he showed complete disregard for all other road users, including pedestrians. I hope it acts as a deterrent for others who think of driving dangerously."
