Woman left in intensive care by show-off learner driver

The woman Tyrone Walsh crashed into suffered a partially collapsed lung and multiple rib fractures and had to spend nine days in a hospital intensive care unit

15:29, 03 Sep 2025

A teenaged learner driver was "showing off" to his mates when he slammed head-on into an oncoming car leaving his victim in intensive care. While on police bail for that offending Tyrone Walsh led officers on a late-night pursuit - continuing to drive away in his car even after his tyres had been punctured and running on the wheel rims.

Swansea Crown Court[1] heard that by his own admission 18-year-old Walsh has been involved in criminality since an early age though he has only one previous conviction. Earlier this year the defendant was the victim of a kidnapping after being accused of stealing a quadbike[2] in a case of mistaken identity.

Megan Williams, prosecuting, told the court the first piece of dangerous driving took place on the night of May 20 this year on the A4062 in Bridgend[3] County.

She said the teenager was seen driving his Vauxhall Corsa erratically along the road and to be tailgating other cars, swerving across the carriageway, and overtaking vehicles on bends.

The court heard that the driving culminated in a serious head-on crash which saw Walsh slamming into an oncoming car while driving on the wrong side of the road. The driver of the other car was taken to the University Hospital of Wales[4] in Cardiff[5] where medics found she had a partially collapsed lung, abnormally low blood pressure, and six broken ribs. The casualty was taken to the intensive care unit where she spent the next nine days.

Meanwhile Walsh had been arrested at the scene and a breath test showed he had 42mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mg - and a roadside drug test showed the presence of cannabis in his system.

Some 2.4g of cannabis was found in the pocket of his gilet. Checks showed the 18-year-old only held a provisional driving licence. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter[6].

At the police station the defendant refused to provide a sample of blood for an evidential alcohol test. He answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview and was released on bail.

Walsh came to the attention of police again exactly one month later when officers received intelligence that a Peugeot Boxer van suspected of being linked to criminal activity was in the Swansea[7] Valley.

An officer found the van in Pontardawe at just after 11.30pm and followed it as it made its way onto the A474 towards Neath.

The court heard the police officer illuminated the blue lights on his car but the van sped off and a so-called "stinger" was then deployed to deflate its tyres. The prosecutor said Walsh continued to drive towards Neath even as the punctured tyres came off the rims ands sparks flew from the wheels. Police vehicles tried to box in the Boxer but Walsh got away before finally stopping in the Caewern estate.

The court heard the defendant was removed from the van and arrested and while being searched told officers he had a kitchen knife in the driver's door pocket.

The weapon was recovered by officers.

A roadside test was positive for cannabis but at the police station Walsh again refused to allow a sample of blood to be taken for analysis and again answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview.

Tyrone Walsh, of Gellideg, Rhydyfro, Pontardawe, had previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, two counts of failing to provide a specimen, two counts of driving without insurance, possession of cannabis, possession of a knife, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has one previous conviction for an offence of criminal damage.

David Singh, for Walsh, said the offending was of a type which courts sadly see all too often - namely of young men in cars "showing off" to their passengers and "driving in a certain way". He said the defendant realised it was fortunate that the Bridgend incident had not resulted in even more serious injury or even a fatality.

The barrister said Walsh had experienced a "difficult upbringing" and had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and said his client had a supportive family.

He added that being held in prison on remand had been a "wake-up call" for the teenager.

Recorder Aidan Eardley KC said he had read a detailed pre-sentence report on Walsh including about him being the victim of a kidnapping which he said would have been a traumatic experience for the teenager. He noted that in the report Walsh had candidly admitted to being involved in criminal activity from an early age - though that activity had only resulted in one conviction - and he said it was evident from everything he had read that the defendant was "immature for his age".

The recorder said the sentence he was going to pass was one which was capable of being suspended but said he had come to the view that appropriate punishment could only be achieved in custody and he said he had his doubts whether there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for the defendant at the current time.

With one-third discounts for his guilty pleas Walsh was sentenced to 14 months detention in a young offenders' institution. He will serve no more than half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

The defendant was banned from driving for 34 months and must pass an extended test before he can get a licence.

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References

1. ^ Swansea Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ kidnapping after being accused of stealing a quadbike (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ Bridgend (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ University Hospital of Wales (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ Cardiff (www.walesonline.co.uk)
6. ^ For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter (www.walesonline.co.uk)
7. ^ Swansea (www.walesonline.co.uk)
8. ^ our WhatsApp community here (chat.whatsapp.com)
9. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)