After sentence was deferred last year, a judge has now said: ‘I gave you a chance to prove yourself and you have proved yourself’
Ryan Fewster appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A banned driver has been spared prison after breaching a suspended sentence he was given for hurtling through streets at speeds of up to 80mph and overtaking on blind bends during a lengthy police chase. Panicking motorist 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, 27, of Asenby Walk, Cottingham, admitted breaching a one-year suspended prison sentence imposed on January 10 last year for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on June 15, 2024.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, told a previous hearing in December 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 a sentencing hearing on January 10 last year, 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 last year. 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.
Sentence had been deferred for six months in December for Fewster to keep out of trouble and carry out the unpaid work and rehabilitation. At a resumed hearing, Samantha Laws, mitigating, said that Fewster had made significant progress after earlier being in the grips of a drugs addiction.
He had been receiving support for this and he had been passing his recent drug tests. “He is not taking any substances,” said Miss Laws.
“He has not committed any further offences since his last court appearance in December. He is very committed and he is very much willing to work with the probation service.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Fewster: “I gave you a chance to prove yourself and you have proved yourself. You need to carry on with that progress or you will very quickly find yourself in prison.”
Fewster was given 20 days’ rehabilitation and he was fined £100 for the breach of the order.
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