A Wiltshire driver who ‘ran out of talent’ and crashed his BMW into a hedge while ‘showing off’ has been sentenced for dangerous driving.
30-year-old Bradley Parsons was identified by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police after footage of his embarrassing drift smash went viral on social media last October.
In a then-public announcement on Instagram shortly after, he said that his BMW M3 was “damaged but repairable” and had been “stripped and ready to be repaired”.
In response to comments on the viral video, Parsons said that “little pr**ks” were ‘praying on his downfall’ – confirming that his car would be back ‘bigger and better than before’.
He added: “Yesterday I read the situation wrong and it shouldn’t have happened, mistakes happen all the time. I’m not the first and I won’t be the last.”
Officers also identified the defendant, from Westbury, as the driver of a BMW seen performing ‘donut’ manoeuvres at an illegal car meet on 25 October 2025.
The footage showed a green BMW drifting at speed and performing ‘donuts’ around a person standing in the road, with large crowds gathered dangerously close to the vehicle.
The following day the same BMW was involved in an single-vehicle crash with a hedge at the roadside at the junction of the A272 and A32 in West Meon, near Caffeine & Machine – a popular coffee house and diner opened for car enthusiasts.
Parsons was seen in his BMW, accelerating hard from the traffic lights, causing violent wheel spin and attempting to drift, before losing control while turning right onto the A272.
As previously reported, Caffeine & Machine founder Phil McGovern condemned his driving – telling Wiltshire 999s: “We do not condone this behaviour at all.”
He added: “Caffeine&Machine as a brand, since its creation in 2015, has worked tirelessly to create a strong social governance with our “Don’t be a Dick” campaign and belief mechanism being central to this.
“DBAD helps protect what we’ve all worked so hard to build, the space we’ve fought to protect, and the reputation of every respectful enthusiast out there.”
Parsons since pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving and at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on 11 May, he was sentenced to a a 12-month suspended prison sentence.
He was also banned from driving for two years and will require an extended retest before being allowed to drive again. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
PS James Hall said: “On both occasions his driving was deliberate, reckless, and intended to show off to spectators.
“The video of him crashing clearly shows that he lost control of the car, which is easily done when attempting to drive in such a dangerous manner.
“This was a busy junction with pedestrians and other motorists and quite frankly, he is lucky that nobody – including himself – was seriously injured or worse.”
Watch video footage of the crash:
