Chesterfield: Speeding driver smashed into drinkers outside pub

CCTV images showed Reece Drabble's VW Polo overtaking another car prior to ploughing into drinkers

Three people suffered life-changing injuries when a speeding driver smashed into a seating area outside a busy pub, a court has heard.

Reece Drabble's VW Polo ploughed into the group outside the Batch House, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in August 2022.

He lost control as he "aggressively" overtook a learner driver.

The 27-year-old was sentenced to 72 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Derby Crown Court on Friday.

The court was told the people in Drabble's path heard a loud screeching of tyres but had "no chance" of getting out of his way.

One man was left trapped under the car and had to be freed by firefighters. He suffered serious injuries to his lung, pelvis and spine.

His partner was left with cuts all over her body and suffered a deep 20cm (7.9in) wound to her thigh, which needed emergency surgery.

Another man suffered a fractured skull and fractures to his leg, the court heard.

'Catastrophe approaching'

CCTV showed Drabble's car smashing through bollards and into the victims before hitting the door of the pub.

Judge James Carter said witnesses described "boy racer-type driving" and heard the revving of an engine before the impact.

Police said the defendant, of Hillman Drive, Inkersall, Derbyshire, was driving at between 40mph and 44mph as he overtook a learner driver, who said he had "floored it" as he passed her.

Sheffield Road, outside the pub, which normally has a 30mph limit, had been resurfaced the day before and there were loose chippings on the carriageway that had led to an advisory 20mph speed limit shown by signs.

The court heard Drabble's car had skidded on the chippings before leaving the road.

The judge said: "Benches were smashed and people were scattered. From the CCTV footage it is possible to see people reacting to the sound of your vehicle and the catastrophe approaching.

"People had no chance to get out of the way."

He said the cause of the accident was "excessive and inappropriate" speed for the road conditions.

'Lifelong impact'

In statements read to the court, all three victims said they were still suffering from physical and psychological trauma.

The woman said she was suffering flashbacks and described the day of the crash as the worst of her life.

One of the male victims has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the court heard.

The judge told Drabble the incident "has had a lifelong impact on a number of people".

"Your victims will probably never recover from what you have subjected them to," he added.

Drabble admitted three charges of causing serious injury by careless driving when he appeared before magistrates in Chesterfield in June.

Lesley Pidcock, defending, said the incident was a "one-off" and that Drabble was genuinely remorseful.

The judge imposed the maximum sentence but suspended it after accepting that Drabble was not a risk to the public.

He said the victims would likely receive significant compensation through a separate civil case, but ordered Drabble to pay them each £750 - as well as ordering Drabble to do 200 hours of work in the community and pay £300 in court costs.