Stuart Black has 151 previous offences on his record and keeps driving despite being a disqualified driver for more than two decades
Stuart Black (Image: South Wales Police)
The owner of a car was dragged along the road as he tried to stop a thief from taking it, a court has heard. After the owner fell to the floor – suffering concussion and a gash to his head – Stuart Black drove off before slamming into a parked car and writing it off.
Swansea Crown Court heard Black ran away but was chased and caught by a witness. The defendant then threated to stab the Good Samaritan. The court heard Black – who has more than 150 previous offences on his record – has never held a full licence and has been a disqualified driver since 2002.
Brian Simpson, prosecuting, told the court that at noon on March 8 this year the owner of a BMW car was doing work on his vehicle at the roadside on Glebe Road in Loughor when the defendant walked by pushing his bicycle.
He said the owner of the BMW then popped into his garage and Black took his chance – he walked back to the car and jumped into the driver’s seat and began revving the engine. The owner ran to his car and took hold of the defendant who “accelerated away at speed” dragging his victim along the road as he made off.
The victim was dragged for a short distance before losing his grip and falling to the ground. Black then performed a U-turn in the road and drove back the way he had come “swerving from side to side” across the road before crashing into a parked car.
The court heard that a witness saw Black running away down a lane and gave chase while calling 999. The Good Samaritan caught up with Black who responded by reaching into the bag he was carrying and warning “Come near me and I will f****** stab you”. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
The court heard the victim suffered grazes to his legs and a four centimetre gash to the back of his head, and it is thought he lost consciousness on the road for a brief time.
In an impact statement which was read to the court by the prosecutor the car owner said doctors had told him he suffered concussion in the incident and he said he had been left with pains in his legs and hip and suffering with daily headaches.
Black was arrested a short time after the incident when a PC spotted a man who matched the defendant’s description on nearby Culfor Road. Black was described as “sweating profusely” and with a “white substance” around his mouth.
He told the arresting officer he was in the area to look after horses. The 45-year-old defendant tested positive for alcohol and drugs at the roadside and subsequently gave a sample of blood for analysis when in custody but the court heard the results of the evidential tests had not yet come back.
Stuart Black, of Cadle Mill, Cadle, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle-taking, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, and common assault – the threats made to the man who chased him – when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
He has 58 previous convictions for 151 offences including three drug-drivings, six vehicle-takings, 10 driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, assault by beating, shoplifting, and possession of a bladed article.
The court heard that in 2002 provisional licence holder Black was disqualified for dangerous driving and has never passed the extended test required for him to get a full licence. Read about a ‘street racer’ who led police on a 110mph chase before crashing into a car and flipping it onto its roof
Stuart John, for Black, said it was “almost impossible” to mitigate the offending but said the defendant’s actions had been “opportunistic” and the injuries caused had been “incidental” to his intention of stealing the car. He said: “He saw the car and decided to take it”.
The advocate said it was accepted Black had a “formidable” antecedent record characterised by driving offences and acquisitive crime, and he said while drug misuse has “always been a factor in his life” the defendant’s consumption of substances had increased following the break-down of a relationship. He added that his client has a three-year-old daughter.
Judge Catherine Richards told Black he was a drug addict and said while she accepted addiction was a disease, the reality was he was not only ruining his own life but was affecting the lives of others too.
With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Black was sentenced to three years in prison. He will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
The defendant was disqualified from driving for two years with the ban extended by an additional 18 months to account for the time he will be behind bars.
Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police sergeant Stuart Williams said: “Stuart Black is an opportunist thief who saw a car running and decided to try his luck with stealing it. In doing so, the owner has attempted to stop Black in the act, and sadly ended up having to go to hospital as a result.
“This was an incident which happened entirely because of Stuart Black’s criminal actions. The victim was fortunate not to be more seriously injured, but this was nonetheless a very shocking and distressing experience for them.”