TikTok car stunt leaves friend brain damaged

Police said Connor Pace seriously injured his victim when "a TikTok trend went wrong"

A man who left a friend seriously injured with brain damage when "a TikTok trend went wrong" has received a suspended sentence.

Connor Pace, of St Helens Park Road in Hastings, East Sussex, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Sussex Police said the 23-year-old's victim was riding on his car bonnet in a car park - imitating a viral trend during a car enthusiast meet-up - in January when he fell off and hit his head on the ground.

TikTok was contacted for comment.

A judge at Lewes Crown Court handed Pace a 16-month sentence suspended for two years on Wednesday.

Pace, a bus driver, was also disqualified from driving for two years, ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work, and will be electronically monitored between 20:00 and 08:00 for eight weeks.

His victim, 23, was unconsciousness for nearly a month after the "traumatic brain injury, requiring multiple surgeries and medical procedures", officers said.

The St Leonards-on-Sea man said he was severely affected by the incident both physically and mentally, and his mother moved from Cornwall to Sussex to care for him, according to police.

The force said Pace drove around Ravenside Retail Park in Bexhill-on-Sea, for approximately 17 seconds before injuring his victim.

Det Con David Symonds said Pace's actions were "mindless and irresponsible", and "changed both his own life and his victim's life irreparably".

"I am confident Pace did not intend to cause serious injury but nevertheless he should never have placed himself in this situation in the first place," he said.