He’s been given another chance to stay out of trouble after a stint in custody
A panicking driver hurtled through streets at hair-raising speeds of up to 80mph and overtook on blind bends during a lengthy police chase. 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 Asenby Walk, Cottingham, but recently in custody on remand, admitted breaching a one-year suspended prison sentence imposed on January 10 this year for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on June 15 last year.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, said that, at about 7.55pm, 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 sped off. 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 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 had been fined in May 2020 for having no insurance.
At the sentencing hearing on January 10, 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. Fewster ended up in custody, however, after admitting two new theft offences that put him in breach of the suspended sentence.
They included stealing numerous items, including sweets and cigarettes, valued at £112, from the One Stop Shop in County Road South, Hull, on August 6. They were bagged at the till area but Fewster ran off after distracting the shop assistant, who turned away from the till when he asked about tobacco and vapes.
On the other occasion, Fewster stole items, valued at £130, from the Premier Store in Calvert Lane, Hull, after putting items in a basket and, at the till, keeping the assistant talking for eight minutes by talking about other products. He leaned across the counter and dragged the goods from the assistant’s hand before running off.
He ran to the door but could not get out because it was locked. He managed to force it open and escape. Fewster had done only 23.5 of the unpaid work hours and three of the rehabilitation days. There were 15 unacceptable absences.
Samantha Laws, mitigating, said that Fewster had spent five weeks in custody on remand. “It is his first taste of custody,” said Miss Laws. “It has been a wake-up call to him.
“Custody has had a significant effect on him.” Fewster had said: “I know I have done wrong.” He had children.
Judge John Thackray KC told Fewster:m”I gave you a golden opportunity in January and you have gone on to commit two serious offences, one of which was bordering on robbery. You have been in custody for five weeks and it seems to have had an effect on you.”
Sentence was deferred until May 15 for Fewster to keep out of trouble and carry out the unpaid work and rehabilitation. He was warned that he faced a “significant custodial sentence” if there were any more offences.
At the January hearing, Judge Thackray 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 any person but there was damage to a police car.”