Dangerous Driver Jailed

Dear Resident

A man has been jailed in connection with a dangerous driving offence in Hemel Hempstead.

During the early hours of Tuesday 16 September (2025) a vehicle was spotted being driven at speed on Galley Hill.

As officers signalled for the vehicle to stop, it made off at speeds of up to 70mph along residential roads, travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway and around a roundabout.

It then reached a dead end in Gatecroft, before ramming a marked police car in a failed attempt to escape.

The driver, identified as 28-year-old Ben Wilde, was arrested at the scene.

He was subsequently charged with:

• Dangerous driving

• Criminal damage

• Failing to provide a specimen for analysis

• Driving on fraudulent plates

• Driving without insurance

• Driving while disqualified

Wilde, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to all offences and appeared before St Albans Cown Court for sentencing on Friday (13 February).

He was jailed for 16 months and disqualified from driving for a period of five years, extended by eight months.

Detective Constable Jake Smith, who led the investigation, said: “The manner of Wilde’s driving on the night was dangerous, and it's extremely lucky that no one was injured as a result.”