'Cowardly' driver abandoned his victims after crash

AN “UTTERLY selfish and cowardly” driver crashed his car and left two of his passengers injured and unconscious after colliding with another vehicle.

- PHILIP DEWEY

He fled from the scene despite being covered in blood and being injured himself.

Michael Tufft, 40, had previously been dubbed as a “hot wanted man” after police issued an appeal for his whereabouts after he ran away from the collision, which took place at the Port Ebbw roundabout in Newport on November 9, 2022.

The victim, Christopher Cornford, saw an object approaching his car at speed before the defendant collided with his vehicle.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard Mr Cornford’s car was hit with such force that it was knocked on to a grass verge. A witness estimated the defendant was travelling between 35mph and 40mph when he drove through red traffic lights and collided with the victim's car.