Thomas Hunt laid out cones on a road in the early hours of the morning, and then threatened to stab a driver who had stopped his car to move them
Thomas Hunt(Image: South Wales Police)
A 27-year-old man set up a “trap” to get his victim to stop driving and get out his car so that he could steal it, a court heard Thomas Hunt, from Pontypool, has been jailed for six years for two separate incidents.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that at around 1am on December 12, 2023, police noticed a Citroen car being driven on the A4043 in Pontypool to a “poor standard of driving”. The police turned on their blue lights and a pursuit followed.
The court heard how Hunt drove through 30mph residential streets at 50mph before peaking at 75mph. At one stage, Hunt performed a dangerous overtake on a left-hand bend. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
Hunt then drove down a cul-de-sac where he got out his car, dropped something on the floor, and ran away from officers.
Although he evaded them, he left behind his mobile phone and provisional driving licence in the car enabling officers to identify him.
In a separate incident, on December 6, 2024, the court heard how Craig Brennan left his home at 4.30am in the morning to go to work as he normally did.
However, as he was driving towards Rogerstone he noticed two cones and a diversion sign blocking a normal access road which he knew was in the wrong place. Mr Brennan got out to move them, leaving his keys in the ignition.
When he got out he heard a voice say: “Give me the f***ing keys.” Mr Brennan then turned around and Hunt threatened to smash him and his car up with a hammer. Hunt then began swinging the hammer towards the victim who put his hand out to stop it.
Hunt said: “I will f***ing stab you then.” He proceeded to pull out a pen knife and started lunging towards the victim, who then Hunt he could take his vehicle. Hunt then drove off in the vehicle, which was later found nearby, undamaged.
The court heard how four days later both men were in the same area by chance and Mr Brennan recognised Hunt as the person who stolen his vehicle. Hunt was subsequently arrested on February 11, 2025. The prosecution said it was their opinion that the cones and sign had been “a trap” to make the victim stop.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Brennan said the incident had affected his life completely, adding that he now constantly worries about his and his family’s safety as a result of the incident, adding that he has even added trackers to his family members’ cars and bikes as a precaution.
Mr Brennan: “I constantly replay the incident in my mind thinking about what could have happened. My arm still hurts where the hammer hit it and I have significant anxiety when I leave my address.”
Hunt, of Greenwood Road, Abersychan, Pontypool, has eight previous convictions for 13 offences including driving a vehicle taken without consent and multiple dwelling burglaries.
Kevin Seal, for the defendant, said his client was still a young man with responsibilities who had worked as a barber for six years before his arrest. Mr Seal said Hunt has taking part in rehabilitation while in custody, including undertaking education courses and helping other prisoners become drug free.
Mr Seal told the court how three defining incidents in his life had sent him into a downward spiral; his grandmother dying, his mother having a stroke, and his close friend overdosing and dying from drug abuse.
Hunt pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a knife, dangerous driving, and driving without a licence or insurance.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced the defendant on Monday, October 27, to a total of six years in prison. The 27-year-old was given nine months for dangerous driving, five years and three months consecutively for robbery, nine months – to be served concurrently – for weapon offences, and one year and three months – to be served concurrently – for possession of a bladed article.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke also disqualified Hunt from driving for a total of five years, one month and two weeks, and made him the subject of a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting his victim for a period of 10 years.
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