Man who did 90mph in 20 zone is jailed

A BRISTOL man who was spotted speeding at 90 miles per hour in a 20 zone has been jailed.

Chaz Bevan drove off from police at almost five times the speed limit, Bristol Crown Court heard. When he stopped he banged a door into a policeman and had to be Tasered.

Bevan, 23, of Bradbury Road in Knowle, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving while disqualified and without insurance and assaulting an emergency worker.

Judge Martin Picton was told Bevan was diagnosed with

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and had an array of difficulties.

But the judge told him: “You had no business buying a car.

“You had no business driving. You haven’t passed an extended driving test. It was a serious offence that puts the public at risk. You’ve got to serve a bit of time for this, immediately.”

The judge jailed Bevan for 12 months and banned him from driving for two years and six months.

Meabh McGee, prosecuting, said police spotted a Ford Focus which appeared to be travelling too quickly in Knowle and activated their blue lights and siren.

Bevan failed to stop and sped off – narrowly missing oncoming traffic and hurtling over speed bumps at 60mph.

Miss McGee said Bevan was estimated to have driven at 90mph in a 20mph limit.

She told the court after some five minutes he drove into a no-through road, mounted the pavement and collided with a parked car. Bevan then made a run for it but assaulted a police officer in the process of being arrested and had to be Tasered. The court heard he had previous convictions for dangerous driving in 2016 and 2018.

Giles Tippett, defending, conceded: “This is the third time he has been convicted of dangerous driving.

“He took fright and took flight.” Mr Tippett said, however, that a clear aspect of ASD was shown in the offending. He told the court his client had a supportive family, with his parents present at court.

He said Bevan would benefit from rehabilitation, such as a thinking skills programme, and would be able to do unpaid work.