Ferrari driver died after crashing on bend

Ben Gladman had a fear of dogs until he rescued a husky/malamute cross called Dobby

A 31-year-old who had a fascination with Ferraris had not been drinking or using his phone when he crashed into a tree, a coroner was told.

Ben Gladman, 31, and his non-identical twin brother Matthew, had set up a property business in Norwich and bought a Ferrari 360 Stradale as an investment.

Coroner Yvonne Blake heard that his girlfriend was a passenger and he wanted her to hear the roar of the 3.6 litre engine when he lost control on a bend on Landlow Lane in Marlingford.

Mr Gladman suffered multiple injuries in the crash in January and a conclusion of road traffic collision was recorded.

In a statement by Mr Gladman's brother Matthew and mother, Hilary Sporton, they described Ben as a deeply caring and well-liked man with a fascination with Ferraris since childhood.

"As a child he sent one of his car designs to Ferrari's head designer and he received an acknowledgement and they became friends," they recalled.

"Ben and Matthew shared a love of F1, and bought a Ferrari 360 Stradale. They were always respectful because of what the car meant to them."

Ben Gladman's Ferrari 360 Stradale collided with a tree in Marlingford on 25 January

After the crash, which happened at about 14:45 GMT on 25 January, former Prime Minister David Cameron and his protection officer happened to be among the first on scene.

But no evidence or witness statements from them were offered to the court.

Police said there were no defects with the car or road surface, and while unable to calculate the exact speed, they had no evidence to suggest he had exceeded the 60mph (97km/h) limit.

In a police statement Mr Gladman's girlfriend Barbara Zart said: "Ben drives that road multiple times a day at about 30mph (48km/h), but as he wanted me to hear the engine he drove a bit faster.

"I remember the car started to lose control. It was not straight in its lane. It felt as if it was going left and right. I remember thinking it might hit at tree."

A member of the public found her murmuring, having suffered minor injuries; with her partner fatally injured in the driver's seat next to her.

Peter Humphreys, who had been fishing at nearby Melton Fishing Lakes, called 999 shortly after hearing "a very loud engine revving" for no more than five seconds followed by "a very loud bang".

"I knew there had been a crash," he said. "It was so quiet after, even the birds were quiet."

Area coroner Yvonne Blake offered her condolences to Mr Gladman's family, saying he "sounds like a thoroughly lovely person"

Coroner Yvonne Blake told Mr Gladman's family: "I used to have a motorbike so I get what you mean about the roar of the engine.

"Because it had rained the day before... the muddy verges may have caused a lack of grip which may have caused Ben to have started to lose control.

"I am very sorry that you have lost your son in this horrendous way."

Mr Gladman used to live in Brentwood in Essex.

His mother and brother's statement concluded: "There will be a space in our world that will never be filled.

"We are devastated to have lost you Ben. We loved you so much and our hearts are shattered into a million pieces."