A Swansea Crown Court hearing recently brought to light the actions of Nathan Krishnan, a 43-year-old driver with a lengthy criminal record. On January 20, 2023, Krishnan was involved in the theft of a Ford Transit van from outside an address in Swansea. This van was later spotted by police on February 16, 2023, while it was travelling with false plates on the M4 motorway near Margam.
As officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle at junction 48, it left the motorway and headed towards Llanelli, where it was observed exceeding speeds of 60mph in areas designated for 30mph and 40mph. Subsequently, the van stopped in a layby on the B4308, from which two men exited. One of the men was apprehended, but the other fled and has not yet been identified.
In an effort to block the van's escape, police units were mobilised, but Krishnan reversed the van into a police car and subsequently rammed it before fleeing the scene. The vehicle was later discovered abandoned, and Krishnan was found hiding beneath a parked car. Upon arrest, he remained largely uncooperative, responding "no comment" to all police inquiries but laughed during his interrogation.
With a staggering 40 previous convictions spanning a total of 122 offences—including 20 counts of driving while disqualified—Krishnan has a well-documented history of traffic-related crimes. His most recent conviction prior to this incident involved a police chase in November 2022, which ended with a crash into a hedge after stealing a BMW.
During the court proceedings, Krishnan's barrister, Julia Cox, acknowledged her client's "appalling record" related to motoring offences, emphasizing that he has become "institutionalised" due to frequent incarceration. She further noted that Krishnan is participating in the 12-Steps addiction programme while in custody and is eager to improve his situation in the future.
Judge Paul Thomas KC expressed that it was evident Krishnan demonstrated "no regard" for road safety or the risks posed to others by his actions. He remarked on the prosecution's decision not to pursue a charge of dangerous driving, describing it as Krishnan's "good fortune."
In light of his guilty pleas to charges including aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance, Krishnan was sentenced to 18 months in prison. As per the judge's order, he will serve half of that sentence in custody before being released on licence to complete the remainder within the community. Additionally, he has been banned from driving for 33 months and must take and pass an extended driving test before regaining his driving privileges, although the judge noted that "the chances of that happening are not high."
Source: Noah Wire Services