A panicking “idiot” driver hurtled through streets at hair-raising speeds of up to 80mph and overtook on blind bends during a lengthy police chase that could have ended in “utter devastation” if a child had suddenly stepped out.
Banned driver Ryan Fewster reversed into a police car and caused serious damage to it during a determined bid to escape. He later abandoned the car and ran off, leaving the engine running and the doors open, Hull Crown Court heard.
Fewster, 26, of Royal Mews, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on June 15.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that, at 8pm, police in a marked patrol car were searching for a stolen car. They found a black Audi A3 parked in North Moor Lane South, Cottingham, and spoke to the driver – Fewster.
They asked him for the registration number of the car but he could not immediately give the details. The police reversed their vehicle and Fewster “suddenly took off at speed”.
He reached speeds of up to 70mph in 60mph limits and hurtled along a road even though it had many potholes and lots of standing water. “The speed was grossly excessive for the prevailing road conditions,” said Mr Welch.
The car turned in to Middledyke Lane, New Village Road and Hull Road at speeds of 70mph and he overtook keep left bollards and overtook a car and then a bus. He reached speeds of 80mph in a 30mph limit on Bricknell Avenue.
The car hit a kerb in Grammar School Road, Hull, and came to a stop. Police blocked the car in and an officer tried to break the driver’s window using a baton. Fewster succeeded in reversing into the police car, causing damage estimated at £601.
He nearly hit a special constable and weaved around bollards to drive along a footpath at speed. A pedestrian was nearby but he was not in the path of Fewster’s car.
Police lost sight of the Audi. It was found abandoned in Dent Road, with both its doors open and the engine running. Police checked on the registered keeper of the car and recognised Fewster from previous dealings.
He was a provisional driving licence holder and the car was uninsured. He made no comment during police interview. He has been fined in May 2020 for having no insurance.
David Godfrey, mitigating, said that it was “disgraceful” driving and Fewster acknowledged that he was entirely to blame for that. It was an isolated incident and he had only limited previous convictions.
“He has done something extremely stupid but he’s not a bad man and not somebody who routinely gets himself into trouble,” said Mr Godfrey.
“He was stupid. He was an idiot. He has been stopped previously for driving while disqualified. He knew that he didn’t have a licence and insurance. It was stupidity and panic. He has held his hands up.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Fewster: “You drove at high speeds while the police were chasing you. You were in residential areas. You were driving at speeds of up to 80mph when the roads were wet and hazardous and after a heavy downpour.”
Some of Fewster’s antics were “unbelievably dangerous” including overtaking on bends. “It could so easily have ended in utter devastation if a child had stepped out,” said Judge Thackray.
“Had that happened, you would be facing a sentence measured in many years, probably double figures, not to mention having taken a life and ruined a family. Thankfully, the chase came to an end without any damage to person but there was damage to a police car.”
Fewster was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £600 compensation for the damage to the police car. He was banned from driving for two years and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
“If you breach the order or commit further offences in the next 18 months, it will be prison,” said Judge Thackray.