A quick-thinking female driver came to the aid of a police officer pursuing a fleeing suspect on foot, pulling over her red Nissan Micra and offering him a ride to help close the gap during an active chase in Wales.
The officer had been chasing Jacob Roberts, 25, after the suspect abandoned his white van in a dead-end street in Abercwmboi, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and attempted to escape on foot. Roberts had been driving erratically to evade police who had detected cannabis coming from his vehicle during a routine patrol in May 2026.
Police bodycam footage shows the moment the officer approaches the Nissan Micra and asks the driver: "I need a lift." According to the Telegraph, the woman replied
"Come on then"before driving to help pursue the suspect. As she drove, she is heard asking the officer for directions, saying:
"Where to?"
The officer jumped from the vehicle after spotting Roberts, deployed his taser, and made the arrest. A subsequent search revealed two cannabis cigarettes in Roberts's possession.
What led to the chase?
The pursuit began after officers on routine patrol in the area detected a strong smell of cannabis emanating from Roberts's van, prompting them to attempt a stop. Rather than comply, Roberts reversed into a police car twice and then collided with parked vehicles and a building while trying to escape, putting pedestrians at serious risk through his erratic driving, failure to stop at junctions, and mounting of pavements.
Sentencing and driving ban
Roberts, from Mountain Ash, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on 16 September 2026 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, failure to stop after a road accident, criminal damage to property, and possession of controlled Class B drugs. According to WalesOnline, he received a custodial sentence of one year and two months. However, the Telegraph reported the sentence as 14 months, with a driving ban lasting three years and seven months.
According to reporting from Wales247, Roberts received concurrent sentences of eight weeks for uninsured driving, six weeks for failing to stop, and four weeks for cannabis possession. He will be required to pass an extended driving test before he is permitted to drive again.
Key facts
- Roberts reverse-rammed a police vehicle twice during the pursuit before abandoning his van and fleeing on foot
- The unnamed female driver's assistance allowed the officer to catch up to the suspect in Abercwmboi, Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Roberts was disqualified from driving for between three and three-and-a-half years and must pass an extended test to regain his licence
- The incident was captured on police bodycam footage showing the officer's request for a lift and the driver's immediate assistance
