Pewsey driver banned after car chase and woodland escape

Byron Lucas-Parsons was spotted driving down Pewsey High Street at speed, without lights on, in the dark

A man who tried to evade police by running into woodland after a car chase has received a driving ban and a suspended sentence.

A taser was fired at Byron Lucas-Parsons, 23, of Goddard Road, after he failed to stop for police on Pewsey High Street in May 2023.

He later escaped into woodland and was tracked down by a police dog.

Lucas-Parsons pleaded guilty to drug driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

Police Dog Conan eventually tracked Lucas-Parsons down after he ran into woodland

Wiltshire Police said Lucas-Parsons was spotted driving at speed, without lights on, through Pewsey High Street just after 04:30 BST on 8 May.

Failing to stop for police when asked by a marked police vehicle, the force said a pursuit eventually took place.

Lucas-Parsons eventually stopped the vehicle on Marlborough Road, where he attempted to abandon his car before getting back inside.

An officer then fired a taser at him before he reversed at speed, crashing into a sign.

The court heard that Lucas-Parsons then got out of the vehicle and ran towards woodland.

Police Dog Conan was deployed to the scene and eventually tracked him down, with Lucas-Parsons admitting he was the driver.

'Mindless actions'

Lucas-Parsons was sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates Court to 24 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months, disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to carry out six months of drug rehabilitation.

He must also pay a £154 surcharge and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

PC Ben Greening said: "Lucas-Parsons did everything in his power to evade police, driving off at speed despite officers requesting him to stop and then running away from police."

He said: "It was down to the great work by PD Conan and his handler that we located him in his hiding place."

"It is extremely fortunate that nobody was injured or worse killed as a result of Lucas-Parsons' selfish and mindless actions," he added.