Moment Taser-wielding police officer commandeers Nissan Micra to catch fleeing criminal after low-speed chase

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 08:51 EDT, 18 September 2026 | Updated: 08:56 EDT, 18 September 2026 An unsuspecting woman became the driver in a police chase after an officer sought her help to catch a fleeing criminal.Suspect Jacob Roberts, 25, was banned from the roads when police noticed a smell of drugs coming from his van in the village of Abercwmboi, South Wales, a court heard.But when officers tried to pull him over Roberts sped off, crashing into parked cars and a building in his bid to get away. The police officer said to the woman: 'I need a lift' when chasing Roberts, to which she responded: 'Come on then.'Bodycam footage showed the moment the officer hopped into the driver's Nissan Micra and she asked him: 'Where to?'He pointed forward and said 'keep going' as the woman drove him to catch up with the dangerous driver.The officer then jumped out of the car and pointed his taser before arresting Roberts on the ground.The footage showed the suspect's van driving wildly at double the 20mph speed limit through the terraced streets of the former mining village. An unsuspecting woman became the driver in a police chase after an officer sought her help to catch a fleeing criminal He pointed forward and said 'keep going' as the woman drove him to catch up with dangerous driver Jacob Roberts as he pointed his taser before making the arrest After ramming a police car Roberts ditched his van to flee on foot when he got to a dead-end lane Suspect Jacob Roberts, 25, was banned from the roads when police noticed a smell of drugs coming from his van in the village of Abercwmboi, South Wales, a court heardAfter ramming a police car Roberts ditched his van to flee on foot when he got to a dead-end lane.But the quick-thinking officer chasing Roberts stopped the member of the public and asked for a lift so they could make the arrest.Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Roberts had cannabis on him when stopped.He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, failure to stop after a road accident, criminal damage to property and possession of cannabis.Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: 'Only custodial sentences can be justified for this type of behaviour. No other sentence is appropriate or commensurate with this level of offending.'You are a very very serious accident waiting to happen.'Hopefully in custody you will realise and come to your senses that you cannot go on behaving in this manner.'Roberts, of Mountain Ash, was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for three years and seven months.PC Peter Kerswell of South Wales Police said: 'Roberts was already banned from driving when he committed these offences, he showed complete disregard for all other road users, including pedestrians. I hope it acts as a deterrent for others who think of driving dangerously.'It's lucky that no one was seriously injured during this pursuit, we hope this sentence will give Roberts time to reflect on his actions.'