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Public schoolboy flees at 115mph in dad's car after row over poor exam results
Last updated at 23:22pm on 12.11.07
Grounded: Evans, who can't go out after 8pm
Buster Evans, 17, jumped two red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road after he was told he would have to leave his £22,000-a-year public school.
Despite being warned he was grounded, he roared off in his father's black Volkswagen Golf GTI in the early hours of the morning, a court heard.
Magistrates were told that he drove two girl passengers at highlydangerous speeds through the centre of Reading, at one point racing away from a police car which tried to stop him.
A series of cameras caught him driving at 41mph in a 30mph zone, 80mph in a 20mph zone and 115mph in a 40mph zone in nearby Woodley.
Police pursued the car but lost sight of it. They tracked Evans to his home, however, through the number plate.
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Powerful: A VW Golf like the one driven at dangerous speeds by Buster Evans
The court heard that the offence happened last August after Evans received poor AS level results and his parents said they would have to take him out of Bradfield College, near Reading.
The teenager, now 18, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop after being instructed to by a constable.
Tom Baker, defending, admitted: "This is a serious incident. No injuries took place because most of Reading was in bed.
"This was an offence born out of immaturity. He did not drive away out of a desire to avoid detection, but to avoid the wrath of his father.
"He had just learned he should leave the sixth form he was attending. That came as something of a stress to him. He is a young man from a good family."
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Bradfield College: Buster Evans attended the £22,000-a-year public school near Reading, Berks
Evans, of Wokingham, Berkshire, was banned from driving for two years and placed under a six-month curfew which stops him leaving home between 8pm and 6am.
Neighbours of his family, who live in a sprawling bungalow protected by large security gates, said Evans's father Chris owns a plant hire firm and has a Bentley as well as the £80,000 Range Rover Sport parked on the driveway.
One resident said: "They are a lovely family but we never really see them."
Evans's mother, Heidi, refused to comment on her son's conviction but said he was now at school in London.
Reader views (16)
Buster is the next Lewis Hamilton.
- Harrison Davies, Wandsworth, London
I happened to be a member of the same house as this boy. He was not a hard worker and seemed to only be in the school for kicks. He was illdisciplined, selfish. I would like to reiterate some comments about his public school status - he was not a typical public school student. I make no defence for him, just don't take him to be a typical public schoolboy.
- Anonymous, United Kingdom
John, Ludlow... you clearly have issues. Just from reading an article it does not mean that you no all about this boy. Public school isn't all that. I have been to both public and state school. And maybe that is a jealousy issue you have having to mention he is rich!
Cut him some slack!
- Louisa, UK
"...the underprivileged don't go to public school, that's why they are underprivileged..."
So that makes around 95% of the people in this country 'underprivileged.
- Steve, London, UK
Rufus, public school must be a tough gig ya? What's the weather like on your planet? Carl, the underprivileged don't go to public school, that's why they are underprivileged, if he has any other "issues" he should never be allowed to even look at a car. We know enough about this poor little rich boy by what he achieved on the night, he should have been sent down.
- John, Ludlow
Why does it have to be mentioned that he is from a public school? Yes he has behaved extremly badly and no doubt his parents will deal with him accordingly. However, it is sad to see so many comments on this site calling him names, you'd think that state school kids never did anything wrong to read them. Not all private educated children are spoilt so take that chip off your shoulder.
- Anon, London, UK
Gosh - cut the chap some slack, public school can be a tough gig, ya? He was probably just a little stressed. Anyway, at least Boris (sorry Buster) now schools in London. These provincial towns have so much to answer for. Woof...
- Rufus, Kingston Upon Thames
It's incredible that people are so keen to draw judgement on someone that they know nothing about. Name calling is not exactly the height of intelligence. There may be other unreported issues that this young boy suffers from relating to his school or family life. I do not condone what he did and fortunately nobody was hurt. However, would those of you that feel the need to call him a "spoilt brat" also call the underpriviledged children that do this sort of thing every night in stolen or uninsured cars the same thing? - they're not exactly spoilt!
- Carl, London
What an odious little spoilt brat, and his parents need to start doing their jobs properly.
If he was a 17 year old from a council estate in Essex he'd probably be looking at 3 months in a juvenile detention centre.
Pathetic child.
- Michael Malone, Camden
He should be looking at 3+ years at Her Majesty's Pleasure as the toast rack of E wing. That would sort him out.
- Squiz, Islington
What an absolute spoilt brat!
- Louise, Essex
Sounds like your typical middle class whinger with parents who pander to his every whim and never believe that their "little soldier" could ever do any wrong.
- Trevor Roll, London
He's called Buster. All sympathy should evaporate at that point.
- Farquhar, Shooters Hill
Let's see...his exam results were poor so he threw his toys out of the pram. The great pansy!
- David, London, England
His parents must be so proud of their achievement.
- Jen, London
Sounds like a spoilt brat to me.
- Austen, London
