A prolific Swindon criminal stuck his middle finger up to police after putting children at risk during a road chase. 

Frankie O'Dwyer, 23, is currently in serving a custodial sentence in HMP Bullingdon, but appeared at Swindon Crown Court via video link to face new charges of dangerous driving, failing to provide and driving while disqualified. 

On May 7 last year  Wiltshire Police noted a green off-road style motorbike being ridden by O'Dwyer on the B4192 in Swindon. They suspected it was not roadworthy and it didn’t have a number plate.

O'Dwyer made the rude gesture to police and failed to stop when he was asked to.

He then proceeded to drive dangerously by not giving way on a roundabout, switching lanes, travelling through red light, and at one point mounted a footpath busy with pedestrians including young children. 

The pursuit lasted five minutes and ended when O'Dwyer was detained at Coate Water Country Park. 

Checks were carried out by police and found the rider didn’t have a driving licence and had various bags of cannabis.

The possession of cannabis was dealt with separately by Swindon Magistrates' Court on August 8 last year, with an £80 fine imposed. 

The court heard from the prosecutor that at 23 years of age, O'Dywer has had 23 convictions for 67 offences, many of which are driving matters. 

His most recent driving conviction was for driving while disqualified in August 2018,

He is currently in prison on recall for a burglary and theft offence he committed in 2019. 

Defence barrister Mr Wylde said: "When he was released Mr O’Dywer engaged well with probation service completing all of his appointments and whilst in custody he contacted the probation service himself.

"He admitted to being very impulsive, taking risks and struggling to regulate his emotions. He said he is sorry to be before court again and is ashamed of his immaturity."

O'Dwyer was sentenced to six months in prison for dangerous driving, one week for failing to provide and six weeks for driving while disqualified, which will all run concurrently with his current custodial sentence that finishes in April 2025. 

He was also disqualified from driving for two years which - will take effect from the day he is released - and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154.