Man jailed after nearly hitting pedestrians at car meet as police pelted with stones in Southsea

A man has been jailed after CCTV clips showed him dangerously driving near pedestrians at an illegal car meet that finished with a hostile gathering in Southsea where police were pelted with stones.

Several video clips show Olly Fifield, 20, drifting in ‘doughnuts’ amidst crowds of people in Southampton on September 21, 2024. Fifield was filmed performing stunts in his pink BMW M3 in the car park on Harbour Parade, while crowds of onlookers stood by.

The meet began at Winchester Park and Ride before moving on to Southampton, Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford, Fareham and finally a gathering at Southsea seafront shortly after midnight where stones were thrown at police.

Fifield, of Thornycroft Avenue in Camberley, Surrey, was sentenced on Monday 22 June at Southampton Magistrates’ Court after he was found guilty of dangerous driving.

He was handed a sentence of six months imprisonment, as well as being banned from driving for three years after his release. A deprivation order was also granted, meaning police have now seized his vehicle permanently.

Police Sergeant James Hall, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “This young man was putting the lives of everyone in that crowd at risk. One tiny miscalculation from the driver could have resulted in dozens of people being seriously injured or worse.

“To anyone out there thinking of attending one of these car meets and behaving in a similar, ridiculous way, just ask yourself: Is that really worth the risk when you could lose your freedom, lose your car, get a criminal record?

“I hope this sentence sends a strong message to everyone else in these communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated in Hampshire.”

As reported, Toby Clarkson, 23, was also previously disqualified from driving for three years and handed a 24-week jail term suspended for a year and told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work following the illegal car meet .