Chances ran out for a Filton man who flouted court orders. And now he's starting a year's jail term.
Though Taylor Williams has a bad record for driving offences he has managed to stay out of prison, a court heard. That was until last month, when police spotted the banned driver on the road twice and pulled him over.
Williams, 22, of Conygre Grove, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, without insurance, in breach of a suspended jail term. Jailing him for 12 months, Judge James Patrick told him: "You've been given chance after chance after chance - this is your third breach of a suspended sentence."
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The judge banned Williams for 18 months on his release. Bristol Crown Court heard police twice spotted banned driver Williams driving on May 23, and stopped him.
It was in March 2022 when the court heard the then banned Williams was already on a suspended jail term when he slammed into an oncoming car in a police chase. Police tried to pull over Taylor Williams when they spotted the Mercedes car he was driving leaving a pub in the early hours.
The court heard that, instead of stopping, he drove off at speed before crashing into a Mazda MX5 being driven by Sebastian Counsell. Thankfully no-one was seriously injured in the smash and Williams, who tried to flee the scene, was arrested.
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After that incident Williams pleaded guilty to dangerous driving while disqualified and without insurance, and driving with excess alcohol in September 2020. The recorder Mr Christopher Quinlan KC imposed a 16-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
Today (June 20, 2023) Meabh McGee, defending, told the court: "He says what he did was incredibly silly and stupid. He regrets everything that happened that day."
Miss McGee said if her client was jailed he would lose his council accommodation. She said he would also risk the loss of a four-year electrical apprenticeship of which he has done a year.
Miss McGee added that her client had family responsibilities and he was deeply concerned about a downturn in his mental health if he was jailed. She urged the judge for sentence to be deferred.
