News / Crime
Driver jailed after ‘reckless and exceedingly dangerous’ police chase
A disqualified driver led police on a high-speed chase through Bristol for almost half an hour before being tasered after colliding with two cars in Fishponds.
One police officer called the driving “amongst the most reckless and exceedingly dangerous I have ever seen”.
Bryan Smith, 47, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 16 months after admitting multiple driving offences during the chase on the afternoon of September 2.
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Dan Hamblin of Avon & Somerset Police roads policing unit spotted Smith driving on Whitchurch Lane in a car that had been stolen a few days earlier and was being driven on cloned registration plates.
Smith failed to stop and sped off, driving for 27 minutes, mounting pavements and reaching speeds of up to 80mph in a 30mph zone.
He was followed by police in vehicles and in a helicopter, with the pursuit coming to a stop on Ledbury Road in Fishponds where Smith’s car became stuck.
He was charged and later pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and dangerous driving.
At Bristol Crown Court, Smith was sentenced to 16 months in prison and was disqualified from driving for ten years and eight months.
Bryan Smith pleaded guilty to multiple driving offences – photo: Avon & Somerset Police
PC Hamblin said: “Smith’s driving was amongst the most reckless and exceedingly dangerous I have ever seen and this sentence to reflects that.
“Thanks to the skill of officers and the support of the police helicopter, he was stopped without any person coming to harm.
“Driving at the speed and the manner he did could have had serious consequences and this sentence protects the public from him.”
Main photo: Avon & Somerset Police
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