Pontypool banned driver jailed after car flip broke teen’s skull

A disqualified driver whose “reckless” driving led to a 13-year-old passenger fracturing his skull has been jailed.

Liam Collins, 36, from Pontypool, was sentenced to three years and four months at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to causing injury by dangerous driving.

The court heard how Collins bought alcohol from a store in Trevethin on 12 November 2024 before agreeing to give two 13-year-old boys a lift in his car.

The boys repeatedly asked Collins to slow down but he continued to drive at speed over bumps and round bends, and boasted “watch this now” before the car overturned.

Gwent Police said it was alerted to the collision when they received a report that two teenagers had returned home covered in blood.

Officers said they later found the grey Focus on its roof, with significant front-end damage, in Lasgarn Lane.

PC Tyler Price said: “When officers entered Collins’ address in Pontypool, he became extremely irate and showed no concern or remorse for his actions.

“The fact that he then failed to report the collision himself is cowardly.

“His dangerous and reckless driving led to a young boy fracturing his skull and sustaining a bleed on the brain.

“The two young victims in this case will have to live with the psychological impact for years to come, but I hope this sentence reassures them and offers some closure.”