Overview
- The high‑speed chase began on July 8 after reports of dangerous driving on the M4, with the stolen Ford Mustang going the wrong way around the J15 roundabout and then against traffic on the A419.
- Officers used tactical contact to box the car in and arrest the driver after several miles of head‑on near misses and repeated ramming of police vehicles.
- Stokes was sentenced on Friday to 32 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 76 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, assaulting emergency workers, threats to kill and other charges.
- Police said officers were injured during the pursuit and that the defendant continued to make threats to kill officers and critical care paramedics after his arrest; some reports say a 15‑year‑old was in the back of the car.
- Authorities linked Stokes to two thefts in June and released footage of the chase as part of broader concern about wrong‑way driving and the risks it creates for other road users.