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Drunk driver jailed for hit and run on end-to-end charity cyclist

Stephen Evans was so drunk police found him collapsed in an alleyway shortly after the crash

A hit-and-run motorist who hit and seriously injured a charity cyclist riding from John O’Groats to Land’s End has been jailed for two years. Stephen Evans had been driving without a licence, while four times over the legal limit, a day after failing an eye test.

On May 22, 2019, Stephen Evans crashed into Jean-Pierre de Villiers near Combe Martin in Devon.

The impact was sufficient to shatter the windscreen of the Ford Focus, but Evans failed to stop.

De Villiers, a fitness coach and motivational speaker, was thrown down a steep bank and spent 15 days in intensive care having suffered internal injuries, two broken legs, a broken arm, and a punctured lung.

The BBC reports that Evans was so drunk police found him collapsed in an alleyway shortly after the crash.

Evans had lost his licence following a 2018 drink-driving conviction. He had taken his ex-partner's car without permission following an argument.

He admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving, driving while disqualified and uninsured, and failing to stop.

Jason Beal, defending, said he had been suffering from alcohol addiction at the time and had expressed true remorse.

As well as the jail term, the judge imposed a 10-year driving ban.

In a statement, de Villiers said: “I have been asked what I feel about the driver. I feel nothing other than not wanting him to be on the road. I have zero animosity or negativity towards him.

“I forgave him straight away. I even feel sorry for him. For me, this was a life changing experience, but I am grateful to be alive.

“Mr Evans, I want you to know I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. There are consequences and repercussions for what you did to me.

“I really hope that whatever happens to you, you can use the time to heal whatever you need to heal and that you come out of this a better and stronger man. I forgive you.”

Evans, replying from the dock, said: “I wish you the best. I never went out to hurt anyone. I wish it was the other way round. I would not be here and you would not be here.

“I pray for you most days, I pray hard. What you said got to me. I would have thought you would have a lot of animosity. I never meant to harm you, I am very, very sorry.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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9 comments

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Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
1 like

Did this guy get some sentence discount for his drunk, no licence and blind super-combo?

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OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
4 likes

The attitude of the victim is a model for us all. 

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wtjs replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
4 likes

The attitude of the victim is a model for us all

It's not a model for me! I would want the b****** dead, if it could be granted by a muscular Old Testament deity.

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David9694 replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
1 like

A bit too philosophical for my tastes. 

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0-0 | 3 years ago
5 likes

If he had downloaded a movie illegally, he'd probably get a longer sentence. FFS.

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wtjs | 3 years ago
4 likes

2 years isn't enough! 10 years ban is- as long as he receives a lifetime ban when he's next caught driving during the ban, and claims that he is filled with 'true remorse' are treated with the mockery they deserve.

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leaway2 replied to wtjs | 3 years ago
2 likes

Lets face it. He will be driving again in 2 years, probably less.

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Dicklexic | 3 years ago
7 likes

Aside from the rather paltry 2 year sentence, the even more dissapointing element is that he was handed a 10 year driving ban. Admittedly he sounds like the sort who will continue to drive whether he has a license or not, as evidenced by this case, but I wonder what does a driver have to do to actualy get a life ban from driving?

People who demonstrate repeatedly that they cannot control a car properly really should lose all privelages to do so again in the future.

Avatar
Jenova20 | 3 years ago
5 likes

2 years isn't enough.

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