Duran Arnet Jailed After Dangerous Police Chase, Liverool 2026

Key Points

• Duran Arnet, aged 36 years, has been handed an immediate jail sentence for 28 weeks.
• Officers tried to stop him when they found him driving a red Ford Focus on September 10.
• He is alleged to have driven away from the police near the Wick Wick Roundabout on the A4174 road.
• He is accused of mounting the pavement and driving towards oncoming traffic while speeding.
• In addition, he drove in the wrong direction of a roundabout.
• Also there was a minor passenger who did not have a seatbelt inside the vehicle.
• The chase continued to Longwell Green up to the Emerald Park region.
• Arnet abandoned his car and fled towards the A4174 dual carriageway.
• He was later arrested after a brief chase on foot.
• He has been charged with dangerous driving and many others.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 17, 2026 – Duran Arnet has been jailed for 28 weeks after allegedly driving dangerously through streets near Bristol while attempting to escape police, with a minor passenger in the car who was not wearing a seatbelt.

According to Bristol Live, officers from Avon and Somerset Police attempted to stop Arnet after receiving intelligence connected with the red Ford Focus he was driving. Instead of stopping, the 36-year-old allegedly accelerated away on the A4174 near Wick Wick Roundabout on Thursday, September 10.

Police said the pursuit developed into a series of dangerous driving manoeuvres. Arnet was seen driving into the path of oncoming traffic, mounting the pavement and travelling at excessive speed. He also allegedly drove around the roundabout in the wrong direction.

The incident raised additional concern because a minor was in the passenger seat and was not wearing a seatbelt during the pursuit.

The report did not identify the child or provide further details about the minor’s condition. No information supplied in the reports indicates that the passenger was injured.

How did Arnet try to escape officers?

Police said the dangerous driving continued through Longwell Green as officers followed the Ford Focus. The vehicle later entered the Emerald Park area, where Arnet allegedly abandoned it and attempted to escape on foot.

According to Bristol Live, he ran towards the A4174 dual carriageway. Officers then pursued him on foot and arrested him after a short chase.

The sequence meant that police had to deal with both the danger created by the vehicle and Arnet’s attempt to evade arrest after leaving it. The reported route included the A4174 near Wick Wick Roundabout, Longwell Green and the Emerald Park area.

The Bristol Live report also referred to footage showing the pursuit. However, the available report does not provide a full account of the recording or identify every person visible in it.

What offences was Duran Arnet charged with?

According to Bristol Live and reports repeating its account, Arnet was charged with five offences:

• Dangerous driving.
• Driving while disqualified.
• Driving without insurance.
• Failing to stop for police.
• Using a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate.

The charges covered both the manner in which the car was driven and the legal status of the driver and vehicle.

The dangerous-driving allegation related to the reported manoeuvres during the pursuit, including driving towards oncoming traffic, mounting the pavement, excessive speed and travelling the wrong way around a roundabout.

The other charges related to Arnet’s alleged failure to stop, his driving status and the absence of insurance and a valid MOT certificate for the vehicle.

The available reports do not state whether Arnet pleaded guilty or not guilty to each charge. They also do not provide a detailed breakdown of the sentence imposed for each individual offence.

When was Arnet sentenced?

Arnet was remanded in custody and appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 11, according to Bristol Live.

The court imposed an immediate custodial sentence of 28 weeks. The sentence followed the incident the previous day, meaning Arnet was jailed shortly after the pursuit and arrest.

Avon and Somerset Police listed the case among its court news on September 17. The force described the outcome as the imprisonment of a man for a series of offences, including dangerous driving after he failed to stop for police.

The reports available do not state whether the court imposed a separate driving disqualification, although dangerous-driving offences normally require the court to consider disqualification and an extended driving test under sentencing guidance.

What did the police say about the driving?

PC Jack Fare of Avon and Somerset Police said Arnet’s driving showed “a complete disregard for the safety of other road users and pedestrians”.

As reported by Bristol Live, PC Fare said the actions created a “significant risk” to members of the public. He also highlighted the presence of the minor passenger, who was not wearing a seatbelt.

PC Fare said: “It is particularly concerning that he carried out these dangerous manoeuvres while a passenger, who was a minor and not wearing a seatbelt, was in the vehicle.”

He added that the police welcomed the custodial sentence because it reflected the seriousness of the offending.

The statement focused on the potential danger to several groups: people travelling in other vehicles, pedestrians, the child passenger and officers involved in the pursuit.

The police account does not say that a collision occurred during the chase. It also does not report injuries to members of the public, officers or the minor passenger.

Why was the child’s lack of a seatbelt significant?

The minor’s lack of a seatbelt was an important part of the reported circumstances because the passenger was inside a vehicle allegedly being driven at excessive speed and into the path of oncoming traffic.

UK Government guidance states that seatbelts must be used where they are fitted, subject to limited exceptions. It also says drivers can be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 is not in the correct child seat or wearing a seatbelt while they are driving.

In this case, the seatbelt concern occurred alongside the dangerous-driving allegation. The child was reportedly in the car while Arnet drove on the wrong side of the road, mounted the pavement and travelled through a roundabout in the wrong direction.

The reports do not provide the minor’s age, height or relationship to Arnet. They also do not say whether the child was seated in an appropriate child restraint, beyond stating that the passenger was not wearing a seatbelt.

What does sentencing guidance say about dangerous driving?

The Sentencing Council states that dangerous driving is an offence under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It is triable either way, carries a maximum sentence of two years’ custody and has an offence range from a community order to two years’ custody.

The guidance identifies several factors that may place dangerous driving in the highest culpability category. These include a deliberate decision to ignore road rules, a prolonged and deliberate course of dangerous driving, obviously highly dangerous manoeuvres, driving in an attempt to evade police and speed significantly above the limit or inappropriate for the conditions.

The same guidance identifies passengers, including children, as a factor that can increase the seriousness of the offence. Other aggravating factors include additional driving offences committed during the same incident and failing to stop.

The available reports do not state which sentencing category the magistrates applied in Arnet’s case. It is therefore not possible to say from the published information how the 28-week sentence was calculated or whether any reduction was applied for a guilty plea.

The sentence was described as immediate custody, meaning Arnet was sent to prison rather than receiving a suspended sentence or a community-based penalty.

Where did the pursuit take place?

The pursuit began on the A4174 near Wick Wick Roundabout, according to Bristol Live. The route then continued through Longwell Green before the Ford Focus entered the Emerald Park area.

The A4174 is a major road around the Bristol area, and the reported actions took place across roads used by other motorists and pedestrians. Avon and Somerset Police described the incident as creating a risk to members of the public.

The final stage took place when Arnet left the vehicle and ran towards the A4174 dual carriageway. Officers arrested him following a short foot chase.

The available reports do not provide exact times, the distance covered or the speed recorded by police. They also do not say how many police vehicles were involved or whether any road closures were required.

What is known about Duran Arnet?

Arnet is 36 and was reported to be from Berwick Road in Easton. He was driving a red Ford Focus when officers attempted to stop him on September 10.

The reports identify him as the defendant sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, but they do not provide information about his previous convictions, employment, family circumstances or reasons for driving away.

No further details about the minor passenger were published in the available reports. The child’s identity has not been reported.

The Liverpool Echo published the report under the headline “Man jailed after driving into oncoming traffic during police chase” and attributed details about the incident to Bristol Live. Bristol Live’s report included the statement from PC Jack Fare and details of the sentence.

Background: Police pursuits and dangerous driving

Police officers may attempt to stop vehicles when they have information or intelligence indicating that intervention is necessary. A driver who fails to stop can face an additional offence, while the manner of the subsequent driving may lead to more serious charges.

Dangerous driving is assessed by considering whether the standard of driving fell far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver and whether it would be obvious that driving in that way would be dangerous. The Sentencing Council guidance separates culpability and harm when setting out sentencing categories.

The guidance lists evading police, highly dangerous manoeuvres and significantly excessive speed as factors associated with higher culpability. It also identifies children and other passengers in the vehicle as factors that may increase seriousness.

Arnet’s case involved several of the circumstances described in the published guidance, according to the reports: an alleged attempt to evade police, excessive speed, driving into oncoming traffic, mounting the pavement, using a roundabout in the wrong direction and carrying a minor passenger.

The case also included allegations that Arnet was disqualified from driving, uninsured and using a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate. These matters were reported as separate charges connected with the same incident.

Prediction: How could this affect motorists and families?

The immediate effect of the case is likely to be increased attention from local motorists and families to the risks created by failing to stop for police, particularly on busy roads such as the A4174.

For parents and guardians, the reported presence of a minor without a seatbelt reinforces the importance of checking that every child is properly restrained before a journey begins. A child’s age, height and the type of vehicle determine which restraint may be required, while seatbelts must be used where fitted, subject to limited exceptions.

For drivers who are stopped or signalled to stop, the case also demonstrates that attempting to escape can lead to multiple charges beyond the original reason for the police intervention. Dangerous manoeuvres, driving while disqualified, lack of insurance and failure to stop can all form part of the prosecution case when supported by evidence.

The case may also reassure local residents that dangerous driving reported during a police pursuit can result in immediate imprisonment. However, the sentence applies to the facts presented in this case, and it should not be treated as a prediction of the outcome in every dangerous-driving prosecution.

For road users in Bristol, Longwell Green and surrounding areas, the reported incident is a reminder that risks during a pursuit can affect people who are not involved in the original police operation. The police statement specifically referred to other road users and pedestrians, while the court outcome reflected the seriousness attributed to the reported conduct.