Benfleet / Grays: Car enthusiast fined for poor driving

A 20-year-old Benfleet man has been fined and had eight penalty points put on his licence after he was seen driving without due care and attention during a late-night car cruising event in Grays.

The man was spotted driving his Renault Clio above the 40mph speed limit on West Thurrock Way on 8 July 2022.

After the incident, he was issued with a section 59 notice under the 2002 Police and Reform Act which means his car may be seized if he drives in an anti-social manner in the future.  

And he was issued with four fixed penalty notices for breaching a public spaces protection order (PSPO) covering West Thurrock.

At Southend Magistrates’ Court on 11 January, the man admitted driving without due care and attention and was fined £326. Magistrates also ordered eight penalty points to be put on his driving licence and ordered him to pay £110 costs and a £130 victim surcharge.

The court heard that the man lost control as he approached a roundabout because he was driving too quickly.

He had shown ‘disregard for the safety of other road users’, whether they were attending the car cruise event or just passing by, as well as for members of the public who had gathered by the side of the road to watch.

“We know car enthusiasts like to get together to show off their vehicles to each other. But when they cause excessive noise and drive in an anti-social manner then we have to take note and we will deal with complaints or with anyone we see who is committing an offence.
“The man was driving at more than the 40mph speed limit, not slowing for roundabouts, which he took at excess speed.
“His poor driving caused his car to ‘fishtail’ and slide about, so he wasn’t fully in control of it, which endangered the safety of spectators and other road users.
“Recently, car meets have seen a trend in racing and drifting, which places anyone who attends or who is simply passing by in danger of serious injury or death.
“Not only would that have a lasting effect on everyone involved, as well as the family and friends on the victim but added to that is the risk to offenders of prosecution and being disqualified from driving if they are convicted of racing.”
Investigating officer PC Matthew Brown

The PSPO covering West Thurrock prevents car cruising, spectating, anti-social behaviour and anti-social driving. A driver can be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice for each offence committed. FPNs can also be issued to passengers of offending vehicles and spectators.

Do you want to report non-emergency crime, antisocial behaviour or tell us about suspicious behaviour in your community?

You can submit a report online or use our Live Chat service.

Live Chat is an online service available on our website Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm, where you can send and receive real-time direct messages with an online digital 101 operator.

To use the service, select the ‘Live Chat’ icon at the bottom right of your screen when your on our website. It can be accessed from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

We still have our 24-hour 101 service which people can call if they feel it is more appropriate to speak to us or don't have access to the internet.

If it's an emergency or someone is in immediate danger please call 999 now.

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.

You can also contact an officer, member of staff or team through our website, submit a general enquiry or provide feedback.

If you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

Extra Eyes

You can provide Extra Eyes with information about dangerous, illegal or poor driving, or about drivers taking unnecessary risks on our roads by visiting 

This includes speeding, careless driving, going through red lights, contravening traffic signs and using mobile phones whilst driving.

You can submit dash-cam footage at any time to Extra Eyes but please adhere to the following so that we have the best chance to progress your complaint:

• You and any other witness must be willing to attend court to give evidence
• Footage must be unedited, clear and in focus
• Vehicles must be identifiable
• Submissions must be made within 48 hours of the event

 Please note:
Footage must show instances of driving behaviour which amounts to careless driving or leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.

Where the alleged driving amounts to an offence and there is no footage, an independent witness, not within your vehicle, is required.

We do not encourage you to proactively seek out examples of poor driving; it should be captured on dash-cam as part of your normal journey.