Teen to be sentenced for crash which injured three passengers

Monday 23 July 2018

A 18-year-old man has admitted driving carelessly on La Pulente Hill and crashing into a wall, injuring his three passengers.

Andrew George Howarth will be sentenced in the Magistrate's Court on 24 August and has been remanded on bail until then.

The Court heard that on 4 February at 03:00, Mr Howarth was driving up the hill at over 30 mph. Setting out the facts for the prosecution, Legal Adviser Chris Baglin said that all three passengers in the vehicle were in various states of drunkenness. They expressed concerns over the fact that Mr Howarth did not slow down while approaching the bend. An impact, described as "quite serious," followed with Mr Howarth's vehicle heading straight into the wall.

The Legal Adviser said Mr Howarth had gone straight into the bend and had made no attempts at taking it.

He explained that one of the passengers injured his leg while another one suffered seat belt injuries. The passenger sitting at the front however suffered more serious injuries. His elbow was shattered and his liver damaged in the accident. His state deteriorated in the hours following the accident, and he had to be sent to Southampton Hospital, where he stayed for four weeks. A full report on the long term effect of the injuries is still pending.

Legal Adviser Chris Baglin said the visibility was good at the time of the accident with only a fine mist reported. The road was described as "all but empty." He urged the Relief Magistrate, David Le Cornu, to send the matter to Royal Court, where a stronger sentence can be imposed.

Advocate Matthew Jowitt, defending, reminded the Court of his client's young age. He said Mr Howarth admitted he had been driving at an inappropriate speed. He explained that as the road was wet, he had been unable to negotiate the bend.

He told the Court Mr Howarth had no previous conviction and was in full time employment.

The Relief Magistrate accepted the jurisdiction for the case and remanded it until 24 August for sentencing. A Social Enquiry Report will be prepared in the meantime to assist in the sentencing process. 

Pictured: La Pulente Hill (Google Maps).