Drugged driver hit van carrying toddler as his car fell apart before rolling into garden
A MAN smashed his car into a van carrying a three-year-old child during a police chase.
Steven Watson-Weir, aged 37, drove over speed bumps so quickly that parts of the vehicle fell off, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
He crashed into a van containing the three-year-old and his BMW ended up rolling into a front garden.
Watson-Weir told police he had just taken some amphetamine before trying to escape from officers through residential streets in Southway on a Saturday afternoon.
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Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Paul Darlow said: "This high-speed driving took place at a time and a place in the city when a number of pedestrians were exposed to unnecessary risk of serious injury.
"You have an appalling record for driving while disqualified and this was your third conviction for dangerous driving."
Watson-Weir, of Bodmin Road, Whitleigh, had earlier admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.
The court heard he was jailed last year for offences including driving a tipper truck at police officers.
Victoria Hoyle, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said two police officers were on patrol in a marked car when they saw a BMW come towards them at the junction of Clittaford Road and Southway Drive just before 4pm on October 27.
She added the driver tried to hide his face but the officers recognised Watson-Weir.
Miss Hoyle said the BMW accelerated away into Clittaford Road and the police car activated its sirens and blue lights.
She added: "The police car was doing 55mph but it was losing ground on the BMW."
The court heard the speed limit was only 30mph and the road had speed bumps.
Miss Hoyle said as the BMW travelled over the bumps, parts became detached and fell into the road.
She added he crashed into a Citroen van which contained a three-year-old child, but instead of stopping drove off at speed.
Miss Hoyle said Watson-Weir turned off into Lulworth Drive before crashing into a parked car in Beverston Way.
She added the BMW hit the kerb on the wrong side of the road and span through 180 degrees.
Miss Hoyle said Watson-Weir abandoned the vehicle and tried to run away, but was arrested.
She added: "The car rolled forward, hit another parked vehicle and ended up in someone's front garden."
Nick Lewin, for Watson-Weir, said he "panicked" when he was spotted by police behind the wheel while banned.
He urged the judge not to send him to jail but impose an order to tackle his drug use.
Mr Lewin said: "He has been a prisoner of drugs and he does not want to be on drugs. But he cannot do it on his own.
"Prison will cause him no pain, discomfort or difficulty. Without some meaningful order he will come back before the courts again."
Watson-Weir was also banned from driving for two and a half years.
Comments
by polysemic
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 2:31AM
“@ pl7nuts
agree that a police chase is a bad idea.”
by polysemic
Tuesday, December 04 2012, 2:19AM
“Cupcake said
1 "sat here slating someone they dont know "
2"whats been wrote in the paper the facts are clearly not right"
3"only people who are related to him or are with him know the truth."
1 The first part of what you wrote is an assumption
2 Enlighten us to the facts then
3 Clearly untrue.
In addition, if it was your son,daughter niece of nephew in the van, you'd have a totally different perspective on this. Yep, everyone does stupid. comes a point when we need to acknowledge this and sort ourselves out. some do, many don't.”
by DevonEagle
Monday, December 03 2012, 11:43PM
“Pl5plym
I don't understand where you are coming from. If as you say there was no trace of drugs in his system then why was that the basis of his defence? Records show that his solicitor said in court....
"He has been a prisoner of drugs and he does not want to be on drugs. But he cannot do it on his own. Prison will cause him no pain, discomfort or difficulty. Without some meaningful order he will come back before the courts again."
That makes it worse if he is claiming to be under the influence of drugs yet there is no record of drugs being in his system.”
by pl7nuts
Monday, December 03 2012, 11:18PM
“what's wrong with you people its obvious he wasn't aware of the child being in the car that he hit & the chase should of been called off if he was so well known to the police they could of caught him at a later date if it was at such high speed & in a built up area! didn't any of you get taught you shouldn't believe everything you read as it's not always true as in this case!
Some sex offenders have been sentenced to less than 14 months that's a disgrace!
Steven has made a few mistakes in life just like the rest of us as nobody is perfect !!!”
by cupcake25
Monday, December 03 2012, 7:31PM
“Right, im not saying what he did was right or wrong but i seriously think people need to get a hobby or something, sat here slating someone they dont know and going on whats been wrote in the paper the facts are clearly not right, only people who are related to him or are with him know the truth. think about his family etc before you all write horrible things, its not for any of you to judge when you dont know him. Have some respect for his partner, children and his family and friends. Im pretty sure if any of you did anything wrong you and your families wouldnt want complete strangers having a say when they have no idea the exact facts, and to be honest when its none of their damn business. I have never commented on here before but i know some of his friends and family and just do not think its right, just have a think before you comment on other peoples mistakes.”
by polysemic
Monday, December 03 2012, 4:05PM
“Brilliant news. He and his brother have been thugs since childhood. Justice served.”
by Pl5plym
Monday, December 03 2012, 1:02PM
“Haha”
by NotHappy1
Monday, December 03 2012, 12:11PM
“@Pl5plym & kimmcnaught13 To quote,
"Watson-Weir told police he had just taken some amphetamine before trying to escape from officers through residential streets in Southway on a Saturday afternoon"
So are you sure he was clean....?????
instead of trying to defend your family member/friend - why dont you both (and all other family and friends) join together and tell him what a muppet he is - ALL of you help him get off drugs (if your all clean yourselves) and remind him how VERY lucky and fortunate he is that he hasnt been jailed for death by dangerous driving etc and remind him how again VERY lucky he is that it is a 14month sentence! --- thats a joke by the way, should have put a zero on the end.”
by leeroymeboy
Monday, December 03 2012, 11:27AM
“"Leeroymeboy... U must been stoned... what was it u sed grass/weed/dooe is just as bad as junk food??"
I never said it, the UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) said it after a six year review.
http://tinyurl.com/8ro7b9v
In any case, the sae rules apply. Don't drive if you're impaired, it's not rocket science.”
by imalady
Monday, December 03 2012, 11:08AM
“Can someone please tell what the heck P15plym * kimmycnaught13 are saying I just checked outside & im not in Jamaca!”