Driver left passengers seriously injured in crash

A police image of the aftermath of the crash involving Gilbert Fillingham's Honda Accord

A speeding driver has been jailed after he crashed into a car, seriously injuring two of its passengers.

Gilbert Fillingham had been travelling at more than twice the speed limit when he hit the car as it turned right in Southwell Road East, in Rainworth, on 26 June 2024, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Both passengers needed surgery, and one underwent multiple operations and spent several weeks in intensive care.

On Tuesday, Fillingham, 24, of Montague Street, Mansfield, was jailed for two and a half years and banned from driving for five years and three months.

The accident happened at the junction of Southwell Road East and Blidworth Lane in Rainworth

Fillingham had been driving his Honda Accord along Southwell Road East before the crash.

Police said he claimed to have been driving at speeds of up to 35mph (56km/h) when he saw a car turning across his path and was unable to avoid it.

However, the force said CCTV footage and a reconstruction of the incident found he had been travelling at between 60mph (97km/h) and 65mph (105km/h).

A witness also told officers Fillingham tailgated her before overtaking her and speeding off moments before the collision.

In a second interview with police, Fillingham gave "no comment" responses and later pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

'Could have killed someone'

Case investigator Louise Melbourne said: "Clearly this young man had no intention of hurting anyone when he got behind the wheel that day, but sadly that is exactly what happened after he made the conscious decision to drive through a residential area at around twice the speed limit.

"It isn't unusual for drivers in Fillingham's position to attempt to mislead us about the speed they were going, but thanks to a very thorough investigation, we were able to comprehensively disprove his initial account.

"It really is no exaggeration to say that he could easily have killed someone that day, so I hope this case serves as a reminder to others about the potential consequences of this kind of reckless and dangerous driving."