'Biggest criminal in Wales' caught after 107mph chase
A man led police on a car chase which saw him travel at more than 100mph before telling officers he was “the biggest criminal in Wales” after he was stopped.Newport Crown Court heard how Elliott Fiteni, from Cardiff, evaded police whilst driving a blue Volvo on Saturday, April 11. He was travelling southbound along the A470 from Abercynon to Pontypridd when he moved into another lane, “appearing to react” after noticing the presence of police.An officer flashed their headlights at Fiteni but he failed to stop, leading to a police pursuit during a dark evening where it was raining heavily, with standing water in some sections of the road. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.Prosecution barrister Salli Harmes told the court that during the pursuit Fiteni had travelled at 107mph in a 50mph zone and 90mph in a 30mph zone, and at one stage lost control of the car whilst aquaplaning. Police also tried to use a stinger device to bring his vehicle to a stop which was unsuccessful.He left the A470 and joined the A468 and was observed travelling on the wrong side of the road. Another police car joined the pursuit on the opposite side of the carriageway to try and get ahead of the car and at another stage a police helicopter became involved to try and locate Fiteni.The 24-year-old was eventually stopped and ran into a nearby garden, with an officer chasing him on foot until he was stopped. When walking back to the police vehicle, he was asked to confirm his identity and whether he was Elliott Fiteni, and at first said “I’ve never heard of him”, but when asked again, he responded: “You know my name, Ellott Fiteni, the biggest criminal in Wales. And what? And what? F*** you.”He told police he had swallowed a bag of ketamine and was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. But he ran away from the area again, toward Gabalfa roundabout, and officers were unable to find him for an hour until he was eventually discovered hiding in a Biffa bin with his hands still handcuffed to the front.In a separate incident on Friday, February 27, Fiteni had attended One Stop at Broadway in Cardiff in the company of a woman when he selected various items and handed a £20 note over at the till which staff suspected to be counterfeit, using a device to check.When told it was counterfeit he asked for it to be returned but the store refused, the court heard. Fiteni then began shouting, throwing confectionery and alcohol to the ground, causing glass bottles to smash and £300 worth of damage. Staff contacted police but the pair had left.Fiteni, of Claverton Way, Pontprennau, Cardiff, appeared at Newport Crown Court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance, and causing criminal damage to property.The court heard he had 20 previous convictions. He pleaded guilty to a new plea of escaping from lawful custody.His barrister, Josh Scouller, described Fiteni’s actions as “juvenile”, and, paying reference to the incident at the store, said he was “concerned having £20 removed from him without having time to accept himself” that it was counterfeit. He described his fleeing from police as “short, unplanned and unsophisticated”.Judge Daniel Williams, sentencing Fiteni to 14 months imprisonment, described his actions as a “deliberately prolonged and highly dangerous course of driving”.The judge also banned him from driving for two years and seven months, with the obligation that he must complete an extended driving test before being able to return to the road.Get Cardiff news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions, and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
