Rhys Evans: Pantless man who said he was ‘Superman’ sentenced for assaulting cops

A bodybuilder who claimed he was ‘Superman’ and was going to kill people before he was brought to the ground by five Sydney cops has been sentenced in court.

Rhys Evans, 32, was sentenced in Manly Local Court over two sets of charges that involved assaulting numerous police officers. Picture: Facebook (Rhys Evans)

A man high on drugs — and not wearing any pants — when he claimed he was “Superman” before assaulting six Sydney police officers, has been sentenced in Manly Local Court.

Former body builder Rhys Evans, 32, attacked the police after he was seen striding down Spofforth St, Cremorne, without any strides on.

Rhys Evans, 32, was jailed for 18 months. Picture: Facebook (Rhys Evans)

The court heard that he was drug affected, carrying his cargo pants in his hands and asking people for help on September 3 last year when police tried to detain him for his, and the public’s, safety.

But Evans, of Potts Point, tried to fight off the police, shouting: “I am Superman and I will kill you”, before one officer ended up falling down a set of stairs on to a concrete path.

He was arrested after a violent struggle which involved him twice being Tasered by police and being sprayed in the face three times with capsicum spray.

Rhys Evans was a described in Manly Local Court as a risk to the community. Picture: Facebook (Rhys Evans)

When he appeared in court last week Evans was also sentenced for a string of serious driving offences linked to a wild police chase through the lower north shore in October last year.

Charges against Evans, who used to live at Narrabeen, included three counts of police pursuit (not stop) drive recklessly, as well as one count each of assaulting police and use/possess or attempt/threaten to use an offensive weapon to avoid arrest.

In documents tendered to court police stated that Evans was driving erratically in a luxury Range Rover on the Warringah Freeway at Neutral Bay about 5am on October 30.

The Range Rover Rhys Evans was driving to get away from police, collided with police cars at Chatswood. Picture John Grainger

He was seen driving on the wrong side of the freeway, and other roads, multiple times. Police began a pursuit, but it was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns.

The vehicle was subsequently stopped after driving on a number of footpaths and colliding with police cars, at the intersection of Centennial Ave and Jenkins St, Chatswood, about 5.45am.

He had to be Tasered before he was arrested. It took eight officers to subdue Evans.

Evans’ solicitor Carrie Nicol told the court her client had lead a “very successful life”, but had a longstanding issue with drugs and several mental health conditions.

“It came undone last year,” Ms Nicol said.

A police van damaged during the October 30 pursuit. Picture: John Grainger

Police prosecutor Sgt Adrian Walsh asked the court to jail Evans, who pleaded guilty to all charges, as a deterrent to others.

Magistrate Bruce Williams convicted Evans, who he said had a 13-year history of drug abuse.

Mr Williams said Evans had “put the public at risk” when he used the car as an offensive weapon to avoid arrest during the police pursuit.

On the charges linked to the Cremorne incident the Magistrate said: “Assaulting police officers is serious … all they were trying to do is protect the public … and were hurt as a result.”

Evans was jailed for 18 months with a non-parole period of 10 months, dating from October 30, 2020. He was also disqualified from driving for two years.