A MONMOUTH man who led police on a dangerous chase when he had three teenage girl passengers in a van was jailed for nine months last Wednesday (21st December).

On 1st November, Lee Jones, 23, formerly of Valley Road, Cinderford, but now of Cornwallis Way, Monmouth, had been given the chance of a suspended sentence with unpaid work and a rehab order.

But last Wednesday (21st December) he was back before Gloucester Crown Court when he admitted that he had failed to attend unpaid work and other appointments required by his order.

Judge Michael Cullum refused to give Jones another chance and implemented the nine months suspended sentence in full.

Last month the court heard that Jones took a Transit van for a joyride from his uncle’s garage, and then, after picking up the three girls, he led police on a chase through Cinderford.

He drove so dangerously that police abandoned the chase and he was able to return the van undamaged to the garage he had taken it from. He allegedly drank several cans of alcohol while driving.

Jones did not have a full driving licence or insurance at the time of the offence on 10th December 2015.

He admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a valid licence and having no insurance.

As well as a nine months jail term suspended for 18 months, he was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work, a 15 day rehabilitation activity and a 30 day ’building better relationships’ community programme. He was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £800 costs.

At last week’s hearing Judge Michael Cullum was told by the probation service that Jones had so far done 15 hours 40 mins of his unpaid work. He had not attended any of the building better relationships course and had done only two days of his rehab activity requirement.

He admitted breach of his order by failing to attend unpaid work and programme requirement dates without reasonable excuse.

His solicitor, Stephen Ritter, said the reason for his absences was that he put his newly won access to his children above his requirement to attend the sessions.

It had taken him two and a half years to win access and allowed that to cloud his judgement, Mr Ritter said.

The solicitor said Jones had been living in a caravan but was now settled with his father in Monmouth. He asked the court to give him a second chance to comply with the terms of last month’s suspended sentence.

"This appearance today has been a nasty jolt for him and I have told him how nasty it could get in very basic terms so he understands it," Mr Ritter said.

"He has been less than alert to his priorities but he did have a long fight over access to the children. I ask you to give him the benefit of the doubt,"

However, Judge Cullum told Jones: "I expect you know that in reality I have no option but to activate the suspended sentence of imprisonment. You were told in clear terms it would only continue if you did everything required of you from the onerous alternative to prison.

"I understand the difficulties in your personal life but, for whatever reason, you have been unable to engage with this programme in any meaningful way."