Police chief hits out at 'joyriders' (From Penarth Times)

Police chief hits out at 'joyriders'

A SERIOUS road accident in Llandough, caused by five youths in a stolen car, has lead to convictions.

The Vale teenagers wrecked the Ford Escort on December 14, 2002, when they collided with a Peugeot in Penlan Road.

Town magistrates sentenced Sean McSheehy, 25, of Holton Road, Barry, to four months prison sentence and disqualified him from driving for two years.

The four others, aged between 14 and 16, received sentences including a supervision order, rehabilitation order, referral order, and all were banned from driving for 12 months.

The Escort overturned and landed on top of the Peugeot, before coming to rest on the grassed verge on the opposite side of the road.

Both fire and ambulance services attended, and the three occupants of the Peugeot were treated for shock at the scene.

Superintendent Colin Jones, Divisional Commander of the Vale of Glamorgan, is clamping down on what he calls this "idiotic behaviour."

He said: "This was a very serious accident, which could have resulted in multiple fatalities.

It is totally unacceptable that the three people travelling in the Peugeot, who had been for a night out in Cardiff, could have died as a result of the reckless and idiotic behaviour of others.

"I totally reject the expression 'joyriding' when individuals steal cars and drive them at high speeds.

"They are committing a criminal act and reacting with a great deal of intent.

They must appreciate that driving cars at high speed could lead to loss of life.

"I can only appeal to individuals not to become involved in such dangerous activity, as it will only be a matter of time before someone is killed.

"I would also appeal to the parents of youngsters involved in such activity to bring their influence to bear upon their children.

"The police will continue with colleagues in the Community Safety Partnership in our attempts to eradicate or at least alleviate this problem in the Vale of Glamorgan."