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A police chase involving a stolen squad car came to a dramatic end in a country lane when the pursued driver careered off the road and crashed into a hedge.

The crash was captured on dashcam by motorist Karl Johnson, 32, who was driving near Draethen at around 5pm on Saturday April 8.

Mr Johnson said: “We were driving through the lane and I’d decided not to speed up – knowing there was a one-vehicle bridge approaching.

“As we came to the corner a police vehicle was in the middle of the road.

“As the police vehicle swerved it lost control and disappeared through the hedge. It was a close call.”

The driver of the vehicle led police on a 6.5km (four miles) chase from Graig-y-Rhacca.

Police had been called earlier to the estate by reports of a car driving dangerously.

After police found and stopped the car, a red Citroen Picasso, its driver fled and officers gave chase on foot. A passenger who had been in the Picasso then stole the unattended police car, driving it at speed through Machen and damaging several other cars.

The police chase ended when the stolen police car crashed.

No injuries were reported. A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, and several other related charges.

A 22-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving whilst under the influence of drugs, criminal damage, and racially or religiously aggravated behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He was released on conditional bail.

Dafydd Williams, 19, of Islwyn Road, Wattsville, appeared in Newport Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday April 12. He was remanded in custody to appear at Newport Crown Court on May 9.

He was charged with a total of 15 offences including dangerous driving, drink driving, driving while disqualified, stealing a police vehicle, failing to stop, and criminal damage.

He is also charged with assault, racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated criminal damage, possession of a knife as an offensive weapon,