FOOTAGE has been released of the terrifying car chase that saw a thief jailed for years after burgling the same shop weeks after he was released from prison.
Matthew Finch, 50, had already been sentenced to six months in jail for burgling Premier Store, on Station Road in Dinas Powys in 2023.
Finch was released in May 2024 and decided to burgle the same store again on June 9 before sending the police on a deadly high-speed chase through Barry.
In footage released by the courts, Finch’s red Fiat is seen tearing through residential streets in the town.
He sends his car over speed bumps at high speed and enters roundabouts without slowing down or stopping.
In one shocking scene he is seen speeding round the Gladstone Bridge roundabout before trying to squeeze his way through cars on Broad Street.
The chase comes to an end when he hits the car he’s trying to get round making his vehicle hop in the air before coming to a grinding halt.
Watch the video below of the terrifying police chase through Barry
Finch crashes into cars as he tries to overtake (Image: CPS)
Finch's red Fiat seen performing dangerous manoeuvres on Broad Street (Image: CPS)
The owner of the store Finch burgled twice lamented why he wasn’t allowed to attach shutters to his windows – going through a prolonged planning process to get permission to do so.
In fact, the community has tried to help move the issue along, starting a petition in support of the store getting the shutters.
At Newport Crown Court on July 23. Finch, of Greenwood Close, Twyn Yr Odyn, was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Matthew Finch jailed (Image: SWP)
He got 18 months for the burglary, two months concurrent for each weapons offence and 10 months consecutively for drug driving, with one month concurrent to this for driving while disqualified.
He was also banned from the roads for two years.
Got a story in Barry? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.
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