Southsea man 'lucky' nobody was hurt after dangerous driving led to bus stop crash
The judge remarked that innocent bystanders could have been seriously injured.
A man who crashed into a bus stop, assaulted a police officer and was found with drugs in his pocket was “lucky” to have not injured anyone, a court has been told.
On October 31 last year, a van was seen driving dangerously through London Road, Hilsea, before colliding with a parked car - which smashed into a bus stop. Jamie Jervis, 30 from Elm Grove, Southsea, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, assaulting a constable, possession of Class A and Class B drugs, failing to provide a specimen, and criminal damage.
A previous court hearing was adjourned for a mental health report to be prepared. Today (Friday, May 29), Jervis appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court for sentencing, but still did not learn his fate.
Graham Heath, prosecuting, said: “The dangerous driving was fairly short-lived through Portsmouth, but caused a very serious road traffic incident, that only through good fortune nobody was injured by.
“He was detained, then fought with the officer and kicked him in the leg. He had cannabis and cocaine with him, and obviously failed to stop.
“There are a number of aggravating factors, and this falls withing the upper bracket of sentencing.”
Defending Jervis, Howard Barrington-Clark suggested that the defendant’s mental health troubles should be cause for a suspended sentence, rather than being imprisoned.
He said: “This is a serious incident, and certainly crosses the custody threshold. But given the credit for a guilty plea, and the mental health assessment, I would ask that you impose a suspended sentence.
“He is receptive to rehabilitation and receiving help, which both the mental health report and probation service say is desperately needed.”
District judge Anthony Callaway was weighing up whether to sentence Jervis on the spot - where the maximum sentence would be 12 months in prison - or send the matter to Portsmouth Crown Court, where a harsher punishment could be dealt. Judge Calloway opted for the latter.
The crown court could also still issue a suspended sentence.
Jervis was remanded on conditional bail, and will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday, June 26.