Category Archives: Sealand

The Principality of Sealand, located on an abandoned World War II anti-aircraft platform seven miles (11 km) off the English coast, claims that it is a legitimate independent country, but that's quite doubtful.

In 1967, retired British Army major Roy Bates occupied the abandoned Rough's Tower, located 60 feet above the North Sea, northeast of London and opposite the mouth of the Orwell River and Felixstowe.

He and his wife, Joan, discussed independence with British attorneys and subsequently declared independence for the Principality of Sealand on September 2, 1967 (Joan's birthday).

Bates called himself Prince Roy and named his wife Princess Joan and lived on Sealand with their two children, Michael and Penelope ("Penny"). The Bates' began issuing coins, passports, and stamps for their new country.

In support of the Principality of Sealand's sovereignty, Prince Roy fired warning shots at a buoy repair boat that came close to Sealand. The Prince was charged by the British government with unlawful possession and discharge of a firearm. The Essex court proclaimed that they didn't have jurisdiction over the tower and the British government chose to drop the case due to mockery by the media.

That case represents Sealand's entire claim to de facto international recognition as an independent country.

(The United Kingdom demolished the only other nearby tower lest others get the idea to also strive for independence.)

In 2000, the Principality of Sealand came into the news because a company called HavenCo Ltd planned on operating a complex of Internet servers at Sealand, out of the reach of governmental control.

HavenCo gave the Bates family $250,000 and stock to lease Rough's Tower with the option of purchasing Sealand in the future.

This transaction was especially satisfying to the Bates as the maintenance and support of Sealand has been quite expensive over the past 40 years.

There are eight accepted criteria used to determine whether an entity is an independent country or not. Let's examine and answer each of the requirements of being an independent country with respect to Sealand and its "sovereignty."

1) Has space or territory that has internationally recognized boundaries.

No. The Principality of Sealand has no land or boundaries at all, it's a tower built by the British as an anti-aircraft platform during World War II. Certainly, the government of the U.K. can assert that it owns this platform.

Sealand also lies within the United Kingdom's proclaimed 12-nautical-mile territorial water limit. Sealand claims that since it asserted its sovereignty before the U.K. extended its territorial waters, the concept of being "grandfathered in" applies. Sealand also claims its own 12.5 nautical miles of territorial water.

2) People live there on an ongoing basis.

Not really. As of 2000, only one person lived at Sealand, to be replaced by temporary residents working for HavenCo.

Prince Roy maintained his U.K. citizenship and passport, lest he ends up somewhere where Sealand's passport wasn't recognized. (No countries legitimately recognize the Sealand passport; those who have used such passports for international travel likely encountered an official who didn't care to notice the passport's "country" of origin.)

3) Has economic activity and an organized economy. A State regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money.

No. HavenCo represents Sealand's only economic activity up to now. While Sealand issued money, there's no use for it beyond collectors. Likewise, Sealand's stamps only have value to a philatelist (stamp collector) as Sealand is not a member of the Universal Postal Union; mail from Sealand can't be sent elsewhere (nor is there much sense in mailing a letter across the tower itself).

4) Has the power of social engineering, such as education.

Perhaps. If it had any citizens.

5) Has a transportation system for moving goods and people.

No.

6) Has a government which provides public services and police power.

Yes, but that police power is certainly not absolute. The United Kingdom can assert its authority over Sealand quite easily with a few police officers.

7) Has sovereignty. No other State should have power over the State's territory.

No. The United Kingdom has power over the Principality of Sealand's territory. The British government was quoted in Wired, "Although Mr. Bates styles the platform as the Principality of Sealand, the U.K. government does not regard Sealand as a state."

8) Has external recognition. A State has been "voted into the club" by other States.

No. No other country recognizes the Principality of Sealand. An official from the United States Department of State was quoted in Wired, "There are no independent principalities in the North Sea. As far as we are concerned, they are just Crown dependencies of Britain."

The British Home Office was quoted by the BBC that the United Kingdom does not recognize Sealand and, "We've no reason to believe that anyone else recognises it either."

The Principality of Sealand fails on six of eight requirements to be considered an independent country and on the other two requirements, they're qualified affirmatives. Therefore, I think we can safely say that the Principality of Sealand is no more a country than my own backyard.

Note: Prince Roy passed away on October 9, 2012, after battling Alzheimer's. His son, Prince Michael, has become the regent of Sealand.

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Sealand - The Principality of Sealand

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Global Camping Toilet Market 2017 By Manufacturers Zodi, Camco, SeaLand, Thetford Marine - NetDugout

Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SLNR) Files An 8-K Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities Market Exclusive Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. is a research and new product development company. The Company is engaged in the manufacture, distribution, sales and marketing of various natural functional beverages, nutriceuticals and health supplements, and the ...

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Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SLNR) Files An 8-K Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities - Market Exclusive

A Sealand church is seeking 164 couples who have tied the knot there over the last 50 years.

St Bartholomews Church wants to bring the brides and grooms together as part of celebrations to mark 150 years on Old Sealand Road.

Couples are invited to a special service on Mothering Sunday, on March 26.

Stephen Smith, one of the organisers of a special weddings exhibition at St Bartholomews, said: Many of the couples will be in other parts of the country and world, and their circumstances may have changed, but we would welcome all who attended marriage services in the church.

Our biggest task is contacting as many of them as we can.

Sealand has changed dramatically over the years, but St Bartholomews has been there as a beacon of hope for all its community during the significant times in their lives.

We have big plans for this to continue in the future and want to involve as many people as possible in the journey.

There will be refreshments at the exhibition showing weddings over the last 150 years and how they were celebrated and marked.

St Bartholomews Church opened its doors on October 15 1867.

Event organisers said although the congregation may be small a comprehensive programme of events designed to appeal to people of all ages is still run.

A grant from Cadwyn Clwyd allowed new lighting to be installed and the congregation is now working towards upgrading the heating and building kitchen and toilets facilities.

The 150th anniversary of St Bartholomews will be marked with events throughout 2017 and includes the special weekend exhibition and service on the weekend of March 25/26.

To find out more and if anybody has photographs and memories of their weddings, contact either Jennifer Watson on cj.wat@talktalk.net or Stephen Smith on smithstephen30@gmail.com

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Did you get married in this Sealand church? - Daily Post North Wales

A burglar who drove at lunatic speeds of more than 120mph while being chased by police has been jailed.

At Mold Crown Court today, Michael Darren Hannan was convicted of burglary at Tan y Bryn in Sychdyn near Mold in February last year and of stealing a VW Polo GTi from outside.

The 26-year-old, who was said to have an appalling record, was jailed for a total of four years, including a six-month sentence for dangerous driving.

Judge David Hale said Hannan reached speeds of 122mph in another stolen car while he was being chased by police.

The judge paid tribute to the professionalism of the police officers who boxed Hannan in on a slip road at Queensferry and brought him to a controlled stop.

The defendant, of Dwellyhouse Lane, Norris Green, Liverpool, denied another burglary at Kiln Close in Buckley and stealing a Mini Cooper from the driveway outside.

He was cleared of those charges when the prosecution offered no evidence against him.

But he admitted driving the Mini without consent the one he was later arrested in following the chase from Sealand Road to the Queensferry interchange.

Prosecuting barrister Ffion Thomas said the owner of the Polo arrived home on the evening of February 22 and parked her car outside.

When her husband later arrived home, it was discovered the car had been taken along with the keys which had been on the kitchen worktop.

Evidence from ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) showed the Mini Cooper, which had been stolen earlier, was being driven in the Flintshire area with false number plates at the time of the Sychdyn burglary.

Cell site evidence showed Hannans mobile phone was pinging off masts in the area at the time.

The following day, the stolen Mini was seen in Sealand Road and, following a high-speed chase, the defendant and two passengers were arrested at Queensferry.

A month later, the stolen Polo was found in Blacon near Chester, and Hannans DNA was found on the handbrake and the gear stick.

Hannan denied being involved in the burglary or theft of the car, but said he had been paid to take others on a shoplifting expedition in North Wales.

That was why his DNA was in the vehicle, he said.

Defending barrister Ben Morris said there was no direct evidence his client was involved in the Sychdyn burglary.

No charges had been brought against his two passengers, although they were in the same situation, he said.

Judge Hale told Hannan, who had previous convictions for house burglary, robbery and attempted robbery, that he had set his sights on a life of being up to no good.

In addition to the prison sentence, Hannan was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended driving test.

In a victim impact statement, the owner of the stolen Polo said she and her husband had travelled around the area trying to find it after the burglary.

The burglary had had made her tearful and jumpy and, when her husband had been away for a weekend, she had been unable to sleep for fear that the burglars would return, she said.

Following the sentencing, DC Chris Connah of the Burglary Action Team at Mold police station said: When an individual commits a domestic burglary, invades your home and steals property that is either sentimental, valuable or both, it is not uncommon for victims to feel violated.

It is therefore reassuring and welcoming that the criminal justice system shares our concern and imposes custodial sentences on those few in our communities intent on disrupting and disregarding the lives of others.

I welcome the sentence and hope it will provide our local communities with the firm reassurance that North Wales Police will relentlessly pursue those individuals who break the law.

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Burglar in 'lunatic' Flintshire police chase jailed - Daily Post North Wales

Have fuselage, will travel. Acting Mayor Ron Kerr, Bill Alder of Sealand Aviation and Jonathan Calderwood and Brian Shaw of the Campbellton Neighbourhood Association pose with a fuselage donated by Sealand for a floatplane entrance feature to Campbell River.

image credit: Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

The project to build a new Campbell River entrance feature took a big step towards reality recently when a key component of the structure was acquired.

Sealand Aviation is donating a complete Beaver floatplane to serve as an entrance feature to the Campbellton entrance to Campbell River. Bill Alder and Nancy Marshall acquired the final component, the fuselage, and are ready to begin assembling it over the next year.

The concept involves placing a complete floatplane on a concrete platform and pylon to hold it up in the air. The feature has been set for a space between the lanes of Highway 19 as it comes down the hill into Campbellton at 14th Avenue.

The project is being done under the auspices of the Campbellton Neighbourhood Association which has been working on improving the historic district and re-asserting its place as the northern entrance into the City of Campbell River. To that end, projects are focused on enhancing the northern gateway with Highway 19A improvements, park establishment and enhancing public access to the Campbell River itself as it passes through Campbellton.

A gathering of city, neighbourhood and Sealand principals got a look at the fuselage on Monday in an effort to encourage business and volunteers to step up and complete the project without using municipal funding.

Alder supports this project because it speaks to Campbell Rivers aviation heritage and future.

Im really pushing aviation in Campbell River, Alder said. Its (the feature) kind of unique, I dont know of any Beavers in Canada sitting on a pylon. I can just visulalize it driving down that hill. Its going to be something.

Alder said that if all the aspects of the project come together in good time, the project could be completed in a year. Besides the fuselage, Sealand Aviation has all the other components of a Beaver floatplane floats, wings, etc.

We have lots and lots of parts kicking around here, Alder said. We have pretty much all the other components.

The fuselage was originally acquired for a customer in Texas but that project fell through.

During the process we built up a bare-bones fuselage for them to take down there to do some structural testing on it, Alder said.

Sealand Aviation, City of Campbell River and Campbellton Neighbourhood Association principals pose with a complete Beaver floatplane, which is how the floatplane that will grace the northern entrance to Campbell River will look at Highway 19 and 14th Avenue. Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

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Floatplane fuselage donated for entrance feature - Campbell River Mirror

For more information about the structure claimed by Sealand see HM Fort Roughs

The Principality of Sealand is an unrecognised micronation that claims Roughs Tower, an offshore platform located in the North Sea approximately 12 kilometres (7.5mi) off the coast of Suffolk, England, as its territory. Roughs Tower is a disused Maunsell Sea Fort, originally called HM Fort Roughs, built as an anti-aircraft defensive gun platform by the British during World War II.[3][4]

Since 1967, the decommissioned HM Fort Roughs has been occupied by family and associates of Paddy Roy Bates, who claim that it is an independent sovereign state.[3] Bates seized it from a group of pirate radio broadcasters in 1967 with the intention of setting up his own station at the site.[5] He attempted to establish Sealand as a nation-state in 1975 with the writing of a national constitution and establishment of other national symbols.[3]

While it has been described as the world's smallest country[6] or nation,[7] Sealand is not officially recognised by any established sovereign state in spite of Sealand's government's claim that it has been de facto recognised by the United Kingdom[3] and Germany.[8] The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in force since 1994 states "Artificial islands, installations and structures do not possess the status of islands. They have no territorial sea of their own, and their presence does not affect the delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf".[9] Since 1987, Sealand lies within the territorial waters of the United Kingdom.

Bates moved to the mainland when he became elderly, naming his son Michael regent. Bates died in October 2012 at the age of 91.[10] Michael lives in Suffolk, England.[11]

In 1943, during World War II, HM Fort Roughs (sometimes called Roughs Tower) was constructed by the United Kingdom as one of the Maunsell Forts,[12] primarily to defend the vital shipping lanes in nearby estuaries against German Navy mine-laying aircraft. It consisted of a floating pontoon base with a superstructure of two hollow towers joined by a deck upon which other structures could be added. The fort was towed to a position above the Rough Sands sandbar, where its base was deliberately flooded to sink it on its final resting place. This is approximately 7 nautical miles (13km) from the coast of Suffolk, outside the then 3nmi (6km) claim of the United Kingdom and, therefore, in international waters.[12] The facility was occupied by 150300 Royal Navy personnel throughout World War II; the last full-time personnel left in 1956.[12]

Roughs Tower was occupied in February and August 1965 by Jack Moore and his daughter Jane, squatting on behalf of the pirate station Wonderful Radio London.

On 2 September 1967, the fort was occupied by Major Paddy Roy Bates, a British subject and pirate radio broadcaster, who ejected a competing group of pirate broadcasters.[5] Bates intended to broadcast his pirate radio station called Radio Essex from the platform.[13] Despite having the necessary equipment, he never began broadcasting.[14] Bates declared the independence of Roughs Tower and deemed it the Principality of Sealand.[5]

In 1968, British workmen entered what Bates claimed to be his territorial waters in order to service a navigational buoy near the platform. Michael Bates (son of Paddy Roy Bates) tried to scare the workmen off by firing warning shots from the former fort. As Bates was a British subject at the time, he was summoned to court in England on firearms charges following the incident.[15] But as the court ruled that the platform (which Bates was now calling "Sealand") was outside British territorial limits, being beyond the then 3-nautical-mile (6km) limit of the country's waters, the case could not proceed.[16]

In 1975, Bates introduced a constitution for Sealand, followed by a national flag, a national anthem, a currency and passports.[3]

In August 1978, Alexander Achenbach, who describes himself as the Prime Minister of Sealand, hired several German and Dutch mercenaries to spearhead an attack on Sealand while Bates and his wife were in England.[8] They stormed the platform with speedboats, jet skis and helicopters, and took Bates' son Michael hostage. Michael was able to retake Sealand and capture Achenbach and the mercenaries using weapons stashed on the platform. Achenbach, a German lawyer who held a Sealand passport, was charged with treason against Sealand[8] and was held unless he paid DM75,000 (more than US$35,000 or 23,000).[17] The governments of the Netherlands, Austria and Germany petitioned the British government for his release, but the United Kingdom disavowed his imprisonment, citing the 1968 court decision.[3] Germany then sent a diplomat from its London embassy to Sealand to negotiate for Achenbach's release. Roy Bates relented after several weeks of negotiations and subsequently claimed that the diplomat's visit constituted de facto recognition of Sealand by Germany.[8]

Following the former's repatriation, Achenbach and Gernot Ptz established a government in exile, sometimes known as the Sealand Rebel Government or Sealandic Rebel Government, in Germany.[8] Achenbach's appointed successor, Johannes Seiger, continues to claim via his website that he is Sealand's legitimate ruling authority.[18]

The claim that Sealand is an independent sovereign state is based on an interpretation of a 1968 decision of an English court, in which it was held that Roughs Tower was in international waters and thus outside the jurisdiction of the domestic courts.[3]

In international law, the most common schools of thought for the creation of statehood are the constitutive and declaratory theories of state creation. The constitutive theory is the standard nineteenth-century model of statehood, and the declaratory theory was developed in the twentieth century to address shortcomings of the constitutive theory. In the constitutive theory, a state exists exclusively via recognition by other states. The theory splits on whether this recognition requires 'diplomatic recognition' or merely 'recognition of existence'. No other state grants Sealand official recognition, but it has been argued by Bates that negotiations carried out by Germany following a brief hostage incident constituted 'recognition of existence' (and, since the German government reportedly sent an ambassador to the tower, diplomatic recognition). In the declaratory theory of statehood, an entity becomes a state as soon as it meets the minimal criteria for statehood. Therefore, recognition by other states is purely 'declaratory'.[33]

In 1987, the UK extended its territorial waters from 3 to 12 nautical miles (6 to 22km). Sealand now sits inside British waters.[34] The United Kingdom is one of 165 parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (in force since 1994), which states in Part V, Article 60, that: 'Artificial islands, installations and structures do not possess the status of islands. They have no territorial sea of their own, and their presence does not affect the delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf'.[9] In the opinion of law academic John Gibson, there is little chance that Sealand would be recognised as a nation because it is a man-made structure.[34]

Irrespective of its legal status, Sealand is managed by the Bates family as if it were a recognised sovereign entity and they are its hereditary royal rulers. Roy Bates styled himself as 'Prince Roy' and his widow 'Princess Joan'. Their son is known as 'His Royal Highness Prince Michael' and has been referred to as the 'Prince Regent' by the Bates family since 1999.[35] In this role, he apparently serves as Sealand's acting 'Head of State' and also its 'Head of Government'.[36] At a micronations conference hosted by the University of Sunderland in 2004, Sealand was represented by Michael Bates' son James. The facility is now occupied by one or more caretakers representing Michael Bates, who himself resides in Essex, England.[35]

Sealand's constitution was instituted in 1974. It consists of a preamble and seven articles.[37] The preamble asserts Sealand's independence, while the articles variously deal with Sealand's status as a constitutional monarchy, the empowerment of government bureaux, the role of an appointed, advisory senate, the functions of an appointed, advisory legal tribunal, a proscription against the bearing of arms except by members of a designated 'Sealand Guard', the exclusive right of the sovereign to formulate foreign policy and alter the constitution, and the hereditary patrilinear succession of the monarchy.[38] Sealand's legal system is claimed to follow British common law, and statutes take the form of decrees enacted by the sovereign.[39] Sealand has issued "fantasy passports" (as termed by the Council of the European Union), which are not valid for international travel,[40] and holds the Guinness World Record for 'the smallest area to lay claim to nation status'.[41] Sealand's motto is E Mare Libertas (From the Sea, Freedom). It appears on Sealandic items such as stamps, passports and coins and is the title of the Sealandic anthem. The anthem was composed by Londoner Basil Simonenko;[42] being an instrumental anthem, it does not have lyrics. In 2005, the anthem was recorded by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and released on their CD National Anthems of the World, Vol. 7: Qatar Syria.

Sealand has been involved in several commercial operations, including the issuing of coins and postage stamps and the establishment of an offshore Internet hosting facility, or 'data haven'.[43][44] Sealand also has an official website and publishes an online newspaper, Sealand News.[45] In addition, a number of amateur athletes 'represent' Sealand in sporting events, including unconventional events like the egg throwing world championship, which the Sealand team won in 2008.[46]

Several dozen different Sealand coins have been minted since 1972. In the early 1990s, Achenbach's German group also produced a coin, featuring a likeness of 'Prime Minister Seiger'.[47] Sealand's coins and postage stamps are denominated in 'Sealand dollars', which it deems to be at parity with the U.S. dollar.[48] Sealand first issued postage stamps in 1969, and issues through 1977. No further stamps were produced until 2010. Sealand is not a member of the Universal Postal Union, therefore its inward address is a PO Box in the United Kingdom.[49] Once an item is mailed to Sealand's tourist and government office, it will then be taken to Sealand. Sealand only has one street address, The Row.[50]

A Sealand mailing address looks like this:[50]

Bureau of Internal Affairs 5, The Row SEALAND 1001 (c/o Sealand Post Bag, IP11 9SZ, UK)

Sealand also sells titles of individual nobility including Lord, Baron, Count and those titles' distaff equivalents. Following Roy Bates' 2012 death, Sealand also began publicly offering knighthoods & Coats of Arms.[51][52]

In 1978, following the invasion, the Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Sealand was formed by Prince Roy and Prince Michael to provide for the Principality's defense should it come under threat or attack. In 2012, following the passing of Prince Roy, membership in the Order was opened to sale to the general public.[53]

In 2000, worldwide publicity was created about Sealand following the establishment of a new entity called HavenCo, a data haven, which effectively took control of Roughs Tower itself; however, Ryan Lackey, HavenCo's founder, later quit and claimed that Bates had lied to him by keeping the 19901991 court case[clarification needed] from him and that, as a result, he had lost the money he had invested in the venture.[54] In November 2008, operations of HavenCo ceased without explanation.[55]

Sealand is not recognized by any major international sporting body, and its population is insufficient to maintain a team composed entirely of Sealanders in any team sport. However, Sealand claims to have official national athletes, including non-Sealanders. These athletes take part in various sports, such as curling, mini-golf, football, fencing, ultimate frisbee, table football and athletics, although all its teams compete out of the country.[56] The Sealand National Football Association is an associate member of the Nouvelle Fdration-Board, a football sanctioning body for non-recognised states and states not members of FIFA. It administers the Sealand national football team. In 2004 the national team played its first international game against land Islands national football team, drawing 22.[57]

Sealand claims that its first official athlete was Darren Blackburn of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, who was appointed in 2003. Blackburn has represented Sealand at a number of local sporting events, including marathons and off-trail races.[58] In 2004, mountaineer Slader Oviatt carried the Sealandic flag to the top of Muztagh Ata.[59] Also in 2007, Michael Martelle represented the Principality of Sealand in the World Cup of Kung Fu, held in Quebec City, Canada; bearing the designation of Athleta Principalitas Bellatorius (Principal Martial Arts Athlete and Champion), Martelle won two silver medals, becoming the first-ever Sealand athlete to appear on a world championship podium.[60]

In 2008, Sealand hosted a skateboarding event with Church and East sponsored by Red Bull.[61][62][63] Sealand's fencing team is located in the United States, affiliated with the University of California, Irvine.

In 2009, Sealand announced the revival of the Football Association and their intention to compete in a future Viva World Cup. Scottish author Neil Forsyth was appointed as President of the Sealand Football Association.[64] Sealand played the second game in their history against Chagos Islands on 5 May 2012, losing 31. The team included actor Ralf Little and former Bolton Wanderers defender Simon Charlton.[65]

In 2009 and 2010, Sealand sent teams to play in various ultimate frisbee club tournaments in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands. They placed 11th at UK nationals in 2010.[66]

From early summer of 2012 Sealand has been represented in the flat track variant of roller derby, by a team principally composed of skaters from the South Wales area.[67]

Sealand played a friendly match in aid of charity against an "All Stars" team from Fulham F.C. on 18 May 2013, losing 57.[68][69]

On 22 May 2013, the mountaineer Kenton Cool placed a Sealand flag at the summit of Mount Everest.[70]

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Principality of Sealand - Wikipedia

A man who drove dangerously in a bid to get away from police has been jailed.

Stefan Kelly, 23, at one stage drove around a police officer who stood in front of him to stop him but he later crashed into another vehicle.

Kelly, of East Green in Sealand, received a 12-month prison sentence and was banned from driving for 18 months.

He was also ordered at Mold Crown Court to take an extended driving test.

Judge Niclas Parry described it as a prolonged piece of dangerous driving when he had repeatedly put other road users at risk.

But for the evasive actions of other drivers, there would have been other collisions, Judge Parry said.

He ignored warnings during the police chase and there was a collision with another vehicle.

The judge said all that occurred when he was uninsured and a disqualified driver, which showed an utter disregard for court orders and for the safety of other road users.

His case was aggravated by his previous convictions which included a robbery charge, two previous charges of aggravated vehicle taking and a previous conviction for dangerous driving.

Only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified, he said, but he would receive maximum credit for his guilty pleas.

The court heard how Kelly admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified when he appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court last month.

His case was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Prosecuting barrister Matthew Dunford told how at 2.30pm on Friday, July 29 last year the defendant was seen driving a BMW 318 in an erratic way behind an unmarked police car on the A494.

The officer lit up the vehicles stop sign but the defendant overtook the police car and pulled in front of him, before exiting on a slip road towards Chester.

He drove at about 45 mph in a 30 mph limit area and went on the wrong side of the road, overtaking vehicles and causing oncoming vehicles to brake.

Kelly performed a sudden stop and left his car, was pursued on foot but then ran back into the vehicle.

The officer stood in front of the vehicle but Kelly drove around him and sped off, explained Mr Dunford.

Again the driving was erratic and caused other road users to take evasive action, he said.

The police located the car about a mile from where it had last been seen.

He was said to have done a wheel spin away from a junction leaving plumes of tyre smoke.

But then he drove into the back of a Mondeo being driven by Philip Keith and Kelly drove off without stopping, leaving the other driver with a sore neck and pain to his left hand.

His passenger also had a sore neck following the impact.

Kelly was eventually tracked down by the police but in interview gave no comment replies.

Robin Boag, defending, said Kelly suffered from dyslexia, he was working, and his girlfriend was due to give birth.

They had just been allocated a tenancy in Mold and it was believed a move from Deeside would be good for him.

He had convictions but had not been in trouble since 2013 and he had shown an ability to stay out of trouble.

Mr Boag suggested a suspended sentence with rehabilitation but the judge took a different view.

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Sealand man jailed for high speed police chase near Chester - LeaderLive

SAFETY concerns have been raised about motorists seen driving through red lights outside a school.

Sealand councillor Christine Jones said she was mortified when she saw motorists driving through red lights on the crossing outside Sealand Primary School on Welsh Road.

Cllr Jones said such foolhardiness by motorists could cost a child their life.

She said: The cars are travelling at speed and the drivers seem to have no regard for the children and parents waiting to cross the very busy road.

The fact that these drivers are doing this at school times is totally outrageous and extremely dangerous.

We really need to make drivers aware that their inconsiderate and dangerous driving could claim a childs life.

Cllr Jones said the safety concerns meant Flintshire Council agreed the school could keep their lollipop person but so far they have had no takers for the job.

She added: The county council did a speed check recently and the results were presented to the community council.

The results did show some speeding traffic at certain times of the day but not enough to warrant a speed camera.

Ive emailed the police and told them of our worries.

These drivers have got to slow down before we have a tragedy at this location.

I really wish we could get a crossing patrol person, as this did not seem to occur as often when she was on patrol.

Cllr Jones added she had similar concerns at Sealand Aveune, with people driving along the road at speed.

She said she has asked for traffic calming measures and a give way sign at the crossroad in an attempt to increase safety on the road.

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Red light maniacs are putting lives at risk outside school in Sealand - News North Wales

In the early 60's, Roy Bates, a Major in the British army, established a radio station, situated offshore on an abandoned ex naval fort named "Knock John". The theory behind this location was an attempt to bypass the draconian broadcasting restrictions of the time, which permitted little more than formal broadcasting by the BBC. Roy's station, "Radio Essex", and others like it, were known affectionately by the media as Pirate radio stations, and were much loved by the British public, as they supplied everything that the BBC did not at the time, Pop music and amusing presenters.

In the years than ensued, Roy fought an unsuccessful legal battle with the UK government, which questioned the legality of his occupation of said fort. It was ruled that "Knock John" fell under UK jurisdiction. Smarting from his setback, Roy weighed his options. Another abandoned fortress, Roughs Tower, identical in construction to the Knock John existed further offshore, and crucially, outside of the three mile limit to which the UK jurisdiction extended. Roy proceeded to occupy Roughs Tower, on Christmas eve 1966, with the intention of revitalising his dormant radio station. This was until he conjured a different plan entirely. After consulting his lawyers, Roy decided to declare this fortress island the independent state of Sealand, Claiming Jus Gentium (Law of Nations") over a part of the globe that was "Terra Nullius (Nobody's Land).

On the 2nd of September 1967, accompanied by his wife Joan on her birthday, his son Michael (14), daughter Penelope (16) and several friends and followers, Roy declared the Principality of Sealand. The founding of this country was marked by the raising a newly designed flag, and in an extremely romantic birthday gesture, the bestowing of a new title on his beloved wife, to be know from that moment on as Princess Joan.

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About - Principality of Sealand