A teenager celebrated his birthday with a cake appearing to make light of his arrest for driving dangerously just three days earlier.
Jack Anthony Brennan, who had been banned from driving until September 2019 and sent to a young offenders’ institution in September last year, narrowly avoided collisions with other cars along the way as he tried to get away from police through the streets of Llanelli .
Appearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, the 19-year-old admitted dangerously driving a Vauxhall Vectra through Andrew Street, Corporation Avenue, Maeswerdd, Maes Golau, Salem Road, Glenalla Road and College Hill on February 17.
But just days after the incident he posted a pictured on Facebook showing a birthday cake depicting a police chase.
In the post he wrote: "Haha what a day. Would like to say I have the best friends in the world fair play to you lot cake is hilarious I have learnt with my lessons with my mistakes and time to move on past that. Onwards and upwards."
The court heard police officers tried to carry out a roadside stop on Brennan because the vehicle did not have its lights on – but he failed to stop and there was a police pursuit.
His driving was described by prosecutor Ellie Morgan as “dangerous”, as she described how he had been travelling through residential areas at speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour.
Brennan, of Long Row, Llanelli, had failed to give way at crossroads, almost collided with other vehicles, ignored ‘no right turn’ signs, and almost collided with railings.
The vehicle was brought to a stop after eight minutes and two passengers who were in the vehicle with Brennan both provided statements to the police describing their fear and attempts to get him to stop.
On April 6 this year Brennan was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to driving a KSR Code moped without a licence, as well as a charge of having no insurance, on March 12.
In court this week he also pleaded guilty to failing to stop his vehicle when directed to do so by the police, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
District judge David Parsons noted how Brennan had two previous convictions for dangerous driving in 2016, for which he was sent to a young offenders’ institution.
Mitigating, Richard Morgan said: “He appreciates the seriousness of the situation in light of his history.
“He came to the Llanelli area from London where he had been living for three years. He was finding it difficult to have things to occupy his time and found himself bored.
“He has recently been before this court and dealt with by way of a suspended term of imprisonment.
“He has shown signs of maturity recently, with two days a week employment as a landscaper. Things are moving in the right direction for him.
“I would ask you to consider a further suspended term of imprisonment with 100 hours unpaid work.
“He has not done anything else since the suspended term of imprisonment was given to him. I think he realises he has to stop.”
Judge Parsons said: “On April 15 last year you drove dangerously, then going through your record on April 30 last year, again you drove dangerously.
“You drove while disqualified in September last year and were sent to custody.
“Having been released on March 12, you drove whilst disqualified, and I also know that that offence of driving while disqualified was followed immediately on April 6 this year with an offence that took place while you were on bail.
“It poses a very real risk to the public – it is a very serious offence of dangerous driving.
“You have to go to crown court for sentence. It would not be correct for me to grant you bail.”
Brennan has been remanded in custody and will next appear before Swansea Crown Court on June 16 for sentence.
