A drug taker who crashed a stolen van while under the influence of Valium and amphetamine turned to drugs after being arrested following his girlfriend’s death. He had to be pulled out of the van by police due to being a drug-induced stupor.
David Pritchard, 34, stole a Ford Transit belonging to Corie McShane in Aberaman, near Aberdare, on November 15 last year. He then drove into Aberdare town centre before crashing the vehicle.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Wednesday heard the defendant was found in a stupor in the driver’s seat. A police officer got into the vehicle and told Pritchard to put the handbrake on, but the van lurched forward and collided with a police car.
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As he was taken from the vehicle, Pritchard fell to the floor and was unable to support himself due to his intoxication. A cylinder containing blue tablets was found in his possession and he admitted to the officer he had taken Valium and amphetamine.
Pritchard, of Sunnybank Stream, Aberaman, pleaded guilty to theft, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified. The court heard he had 28 previous convictions, including 16 offences of theft.
In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Kirsten Murphy, Mr McShane said: “This has caused me a huge amount of stress. He took my vehicle which I need for my living and need to support my family. I used the van every day for work and it was damaged so badly it was unusable and I was unable to work or take the kids to school. I have had to pay for every repair done to the vehicle which has cost me £7,000. The van was new and I should have been able to enjoy my new vehicle.”
In mitigation, Ross McQuillan-Johnson said his client had suffered the loss of his mother and his girlfriend, whose body was discovered by the defendant in their bathroom after she had taken her own life. Mr McQuillan-Johnson said Pritchard had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was under investigation for some time until it was established she had died at her own hands. As a result of this, he turned to drugs as solace but has completed a number of courses while on remand in prison for the current offence.
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “Mr McShane is a hardworking man and had tools in his vehicle which cost him £45,000. You don’t work but imagine what it’s like to pay so much money and having to be told the insurance was not valid.”
Pritchard was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment. He was disqualified from driving for three years and 10 months. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here
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