"An embarrassing display of recklessness and stupidity" - dangerous driver banned following car meets in Havant and Whiteley
A dangerous driver has been banned from the roads for two years after his “showing off” at car meets put lives at risk.
Pawel Maria Abratanski, 34, of Alexandra Road in Southampton was sentenced today (January 26) after multiple dangerous driving incidents. He was behind the wheel of a car in the Asda car park in Havant on May 4 that drifted through the middle of a large crowd nearly hitting one man who ran across.
A number of clips where found on his phone showing him drifting and driving dangerously at locations in Eastleigh, Yateley and Whiteley.
Abratanski appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court today for sentencing having previously pled guilty to four counts of dangerous driving. He was also sentenced for failing to identify the drivers of two other vehicles at car meets and for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition which was likely to cause injury due to a number of serious defects identified on his Nissan Silvia.
Alongside a two year driving ban, he was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and his vehicle has been seized and will be crushed.
Police have released footage of the incident in Havant which can be found embedded in this article.
Police Sergeant James Hall, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “All these videos show a pattern of behaviour where the defendant was showing off and repeatedly putting bystanders and other motorists at serious risk of injury or worse.
“In these clips you can see people stood around and watching, just inches away from the cars at some points. All it takes is for the driver to lose control for a split second and they could crash into the spectators, so please don’t attend these car meets even just to watch.
“These clips show an embarrassing display of recklessness and stupidity by the defendant and he has now been apprehended before his actions could cause any injuries or fatalities.”