Joe SkirkowskiBBC News, Bristol
The moment police caught up with a man and tasered him following a high speed car chase has been captured on camera.
Bryan Smith, 47, from Easton, reached speeds of 70mph, went the wrong way around a roundabout and mounted pavements as officers pursued him through residential areas in Bristol on Tuesday.
He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court earlier where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and other driving offences. He will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 9 October.
The dramatic footage of Smith’s arrest appeared on social media having been filmed by two men sitting in a car Smith had just hit.
“Whilst I appreciate that for the public it may seem a bit scary and concerning at times when they see these things happening, I want to reassure them that the officers that are doing this activity are well trained and they know what they’re doing,” said Insp Matt Boiles, from Avon and Somerset Police.
Mr Boiles said police may also deploy devices such as stingers to deflate car tyres and end chases safely.
As well as dangerous driving, Smith admitted driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to provide a blood sample for testing.
Magistrates heard how Smith had unknowingly bought the Volkswagen Scirocco – which had been stolen in Yate on 29 August – days before the pursuit.
In the footage, officers from Avon and Somerset Police can be seen surrounding the blue car and using their batons to smash the driver’s window before tasering Smith.
It was on the other side of Bristol, in Hengrove, when an officer first noticed Smith’s Volkswagen had false number plates on and tried to get him to pull over.
When Smith failed to stop, a helicopter was brought in to assist in the chase – which came to an end in Fishponds.
Smith was not granted bail and will be remanded in custody.
