Driver filmed drifting on roundabout at car meet banned

A "reckless and dangerous driver" filmed drifting between people on a roundabout at an illegal car meet has been banned from driving, police have said.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said Toby Clarkson was given a 24-week suspended jail sentence at Southampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old, of London Road in Mickleham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in relation to a car meet, which took place over several hours across southern Hampshire in September.

Footage released by the police showed Clarkson driving his white BMW at speed around the Harbour Parade roundabout near IKEA in Southampton city centre.

A police statement said Clarkson "put lives at risk" during the meet, which started at Winchester Park and Ride on the evening of 21 September.

The vehicles later moved on to Southampton, Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford, Fareham and eventually gathered at Southsea seafront shortly after midnight.

Police said at one point an ambulance on an emergency call was delayed by vehicles taking part.

Officers viewed hours of CCTV, dashcam and social media footage, including a clip of Clarkson circling the roundabout at speed with crowds of people watching at the roadside.

As well as a dangerous driving charge, police said Clarkson pleaded guilty to using a car on a road in such a condition it was likely to cause danger and four counts of failing to give information relating to the identification of a driver.

He was handed a 24-week prison sentence which has been suspended for a year, ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work, attend a programme on car crime and disqualified from driving for three years.

Supt Mark Lewis described Clarkson's behaviour as "astonishing".

"There were crowds of people mere metres away from Clarkson's car and one slip of the steering wheel could have put dozens in hospital," he said.

"To risk maiming or killing people for the sake of something so immature, the driver should be embarrassed and ashamed of his actions."

Supt Lewis said the case should act as a warning, adding: "Just because you drive home in your car from one of these meets, it doesn't mean you have gotten away with it."

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.