Shocking CCTV footage shows dangerous driving as three jailed

Shocking CCTV footage has been released of the moment a driver ploughed into the side of a HGV with a three-year-old boy in the back of his car.

 

Declan Webster lost control of his Toyota Corolla after racing through the streets of Chesterfield with two other drivers – topping speeds of 84mph.

The trio - including brothers Michael and Robert Bower - had spent several hours in a beer garden before driving off in their vehicles and racing each other in Brimington Road North in August 2020.

Webster, 33, of Spital Lane, Chesterfield, had the young boy and a woman in his car when he smashed into the lorry at Whittington Moor roundabout.

Amazingly, all escaped unscathed.

The drivers all fled but were later arrested and charged with dangerous driving. They admitted the charge and were sentenced at Derby Crown Court yesterday.

Webster was jailed for 16 months. Robert Bower, 33, of Hindley Road, Chesterfield, was jailed for 14 months, while Michael Bower, 28, of Corner Pin Close, Staveley, was sentenced to 12 months. All three were banned from driving for various periods.

PC Stu Smith, from our Roads Policing Unit, said: “It is pure luck that no-one was seriously hurt, or killed, in this incident.

“All three men behaved extremely recklessly, putting their own lives and the lives of others at risk.

“Declan Webster’s apparent disregard for the safety of his young son and partner, who were passengers in his car is particularly shocking.

“Today’s sentencing shows that dangerous driving will not be tolerated on Derbyshire’s roads.

“I hope that Webster, Bower and Bower will realise the true gravity of what they have done and will feel grateful that their arrogant and irresponsible behaviour didn’t cost anyone their life.”