Latest news with #GavinWebb
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Watch: Motorist in ‘high-speed chase' with hit-and-run driver
A hit-and-run incident that sparked a high-speed chase through residential streets in Dorset has been described as a 'moment of complete stupidity' in court. Dashcam footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows driver Gavin Webb being hit by another vehicle, which mounted the kerb and cut him up in Poole on Feb 4. Mr Webb is then shown speeding after the driver who crashed into him, overtaking other cars while calling 999 to report the incident. The 48-year-old later handed the footage to police, who instead used it to prosecute him for dangerous driving. The other motorist involved did not face any charges, with Dorset Police saying that 'no evidence was found to warrant prosecution'. His insurance also paid for the damage caused in the initial collision. After the initial chase, Mr Webb, a sales accounts manager for a historic coin company, managed to block the other driver's path with his own vehicle. He then stepped out of his car to inform the other driver that the police were on their way. The driver eventually managed to speed off by 'ramming' Mr Webb out of the way, and he again decided to follow the car. Mr Webb later found the Vauxhall car abandoned on a dead end road, and immediately gave his dashcam footage to two police officers, who he claimed informed him he had done a 'good job'. The other driver was later identified and attended a voluntary police interview, but was not charged. Mr Webb, a father of three, faced the prospect of jail if he did not admit the charge. 'Pure' intentions James Moore, the defendant's lawyer, told the court that his intentions were 'pure', and that the 'system' had gone 'after the good guy'. He added: 'This is an incredibly unique offence. The chap who made off is the instigator and protagonist of this whole incident. 'He illegally and dangerously cuts up Mr Webb, who is moving forward and there's a collision. He was not responsible for that accident. 'He rings 999 and says 'please come as quick as you can'. Not once does the controller say desist, don't follow him. He is actively encouraged to pursue. He was driving in a manner which is in control, and gives a very informed commentary. He has not collided with any vehicles, he has not injured any persons. 'If the guy who had been driving that car had been found with a load of weapons or drugs, [Mr Webb] wouldn't be here today – he would be applauded for apprehending him. But Nicola Rees, prosecuting, said the dashcam video showed Mr Webb driving dangerously through residential roads at high speeds. She said: 'He captured the initial incident on dashcam – he could have reported it. Instead, he went on a high-speed chase through busy streets and residential roads, dangerous driving himself. It was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road. He sped significantly in excess of the limit.' Michael Harris, the chairman of the bench, said it was a 'moment of complete stupidity', adding that Mr Webb was lucky he did not hit a pedestrian or car pulling out from a side road. Mr Webb was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to carry out 30 hours of unpaid work, and was banned from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Good guy' motorist who chased hit-and-run driver but ended up in court instead is banned from roads for 12 months
Police have been accused of 'going after the good guy' after a motorist who pursued another driver who had collided with him ended up in court himself. Gavin Webb willingly handed police dashcam footage of him following the driver who had just hit his car and sped off without stopping. But instead officers used the video against the 48-year-old who was charged and prosecuted while the other motorist got off scot-free. Webb's Audi A5 was hit by the impatient Vauxhall driver when he allegedly mounted the kerb and cut him up in Poole, Dorset, on February 4 this year. The driver did not stop after the collision so Webb decided to follow him. He called 999, reported what had happened and told the operator he was following the culprit before delivering an 'informed commentary' of the other driver's overtaking manoeuvres and alleged speeding in a residential area. At one point he can be heard telling the call handler 'he's going to have a head on crash'. The dashcam footage shows the Vauxhall driver turn his car around after getting blocked in, prompting Webb to get out and tell him the police were on their way. The video shows the driver then 'ramming' Webb - still on foot -out of the way and driving off again. Webb, a sales accounts manager for a company that sells historic coins, followed him again before finding the Vauxhall in a dead end road. A court heard Webb immediately gave his dashcam footage to two police officers who told him 'good job'. But when the footage was later reviewed a decision was made to charge the defendant with dangerous driving. The other driver was later identified and attended a voluntary police interview over the matter but was not charged. Webb, a father-of-three, faced the prospect of jail had he not admitted the charge. He was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to carry out community service. His lawyer told the court Webb's intentions were 'pure' and the 'system' has gone 'after the good guy'. James Moore said: 'This is an incredibly unique offence. 'The chap who made off is the instigator and protagonist of this whole incident. 'He illegally and dangerously cuts up Mr Webb, who is moving forward and there's a collision. He was not responsible for that accident. 'He rings 999 and says 'please come as quick as you can.' Not once does the controller say desist, don't follow him. He is actively encouraged to pursue. 'He was driving in a manner which is in control and gives a very informed commentary. 'He has not collided with any vehicles, he has not injured any persons.' Mr Moore said the other driver's insurance had paid out for the damaged caused in the initial collision. He added: 'The prosecution present this as he was angered, lost the plot and pursued this chap. No, Mr Webb is concerned the driver of that vehicle is a risk to other members of the public and might be in a stolen vehicle. 'If the guy who had been driving that car had been found with a load of weapons or drugs, (Webb) wouldn't be here today, he would be applauded for apprehending him. 'This is well-intentioned. Ten years ago he would not be here, but we live in a world now where everyone is held to the book regardless.' He said a prison sentence would be appropriate 'for people who aren't insured, under the influence or evading the police – this is the flipside' Mr Moore told Poole Magistrates' Court his client was a 'member of the public who has slightly crossed the line' while thinking he was doing the right thing. He added: 'He's a decent, law-abiding guy. Sometimes the system should use a bit of discretion and not go after the good guy.' But Nicola Rees, prosecuting, said the dashcam video showed Webb dangerous driving at high speeds through residential roads. She said: 'He captured the initial incident on dashcam, he could've reported it. Instead he went on a high speed chase through busy streets and residential roads, dangerous driving himself. 'It was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road. He sped significantly in excess of the limit.' Michael Harris, chair of the bench, described it as a 'moment of complete stupidity'. Sentencing on Monday, he said Webb was lucky it wasn't more serious, as a pedestrian could have stepped out between two cars, or a car could have pulled out from a side road. Mr Harris said: 'We are going to deal with this as leniently as we can. But this offence is so serious we could have imposed a custodial sentence. 'We have gone outside the guidelines based on what we have heard about you and our understanding of what happened.' Mr Harris said if Webb had not admitted the offence and been found guilty after a trial he would have been facing custody. The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years' imprisonment. Mr Harris told Webb: 'I want you to understand how close this is to the edge. This was a strange one. I feel confident we won't see you again.' Webb, of Poole, was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to carry out 30 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £114 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs. A spokesperson for Dorset Police confirmed the other driver had attended for a voluntary police interview but 'no further action' was brought against him.
