Reece Lewis sentenced for driving car at man in Chard

The defendant, Reece Lewis, 24, of Donyatt Hill, Donyatt, Ilminster, appeared in Taunton Crown Court on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Lewis was charged with driving a motor vehicle dangerously, affray and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard on August 10, 2024, that Lewis had entered The Phoenix Hotel at 15 Fore Street, in Chard, had previously asked the victim to have a fight with him, and on this occasion put his hand on his shoulder and said: "Do you remember me? You are my friend."

After which he stayed in the establishment and was 'causing problems', including damaging a tablet used to play music on the bar and climbing up on the bar to dance.

In court, it was heard that at around 3am in the morning when the bar was closing, Lewis went outside for a smoke and when he was trying to get back in, he pushed the victim in the chest, causing him 'some pain'.

The court heard Lewis said: "I'll f*****g kill you."

The court heard that the victim believed the threat, and later, he saw a car driving straight towards him outside.

Lewis was described by William Hunter, prosecuting, as making aggressive gestures, and it was heard that the victim stepped out of the way and the car 'narrowly missed him.'

The court heard that after this incident, Lewis said: "I told you I was going to f*****g kill you."

According to the prosecution, the victim tried to open the door, but the defendant reversed at speed and drove off.

During this incident, the car struck another woman who has said she was left with flashbacks and pain in her wrist and leg.

In her read victim statement, she said: "In the six days since the incident, I still have pain in my leg.

"I also have pain in my wrist, where it was hit.

"It has affected my everyday life.

"I now struggle with sleeping, I have been having flashbacks, it's hard to describe, but it shakes me and makes me feel scared.

"Chard is a small town, and word will have spread as to what happened to me, and I don't want to have to keep telling people about it and reliving the trauma."

The court heard this was a 'highly dangerous manoeuvre' and the car later collided with a lamp post after driving away from the scene of the incident.

Prosecution said Lewis has made 12 previous court appearances for 19 offences, including assault and threatening behaviour and is on a suspended sentence, which he is not in breach of.

Prosecution said Lewis was 'impaired by alcohol', 'ignored the rules of the road', 'caused injury to others', and used his car as a weapon with the intention to cause fear and serious harm.

Emma Martin, defending, described the victim as 'young' and 'deeply remorseful for his actions on that day' and blamed alcohol and a lack of maturity for his actions.

Defence said: "Everything this young man has done, where he has harmed people, upset people, caused real harm in his community of Chard, has been when he is drunk.

"His poison is alcohol.

"When he gets drunk, he becomes somebody not very nice, someone he doesn't recognise."

Defence described Lewis' behaviour as 'unforgivable' and 'in stark contrast' with his presentation when sober.

The court heard Lewis apologised to the victim and had been dealing with the trauma from the loss of his grandfather, whom he looked up to and was 'very, very close to.'

Defence said: "We really are at a crossroads with this young man."

During his sentencing, His Honour Judge P Cook said: "You made a nuisance of yourself [that night] and made a nuisance of yourself before.

"You were drunk, you were being annoying, you pushed him and told him, 'I will f*****g kill you', and then left after [the victim] told you to go home.

"You drove straight at him on the pavement at high speed.

"There was another woman on the pavement, and you struck her.

"You could have killed him."

The court heard Judge P Cook acknowledged Lewis' trauma surrounding losing his grandfather whilst also saying he 'poses a high risk' and is not of good character.

He said: "Now you are at a crossroads, and with your increasing maturity, the risk appears to be subsiding."

Lewis was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for a period of two years, has been given a curfew for four months from 9pm to 6am and has received a four-month alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement.

Lewis is also disqualified from driving for 12 months and has to take an extended retest once that period has ended.

Lewis must also pay £300 in costs.

Judge P Cook said: "You have come within a whisker of going immediately to prison today, looking at the seriousness of the driving."