Man jailed following deaths of three men from Berkshire in a car crash

A man's been handed an 18 year prison sentence, after admitting causing the deaths of three Berkshire men in a car crash.

39 year old Robbie Cook from Eastbourne in East Sussex had been driving a Range Rover in the Hampden Park area of the town in February last year, when he started pursuing a Citroen Berlingo car.

That vehicle lost control and crashed into trees.

Those inside - 21 year old Daniel Davies, 32 year old Jonny Day and 36 year old Jon ‘Tommy’ Miller, all from Berkshire - died at the scene.

Cook lied to police, claiming he had no connection to the Citroen, had not met the men and had not pursued them through the streets.

He had destroyed his phone, and later admitted to officers that he did not stop at the scene because he had drugs in the Range Rover.

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that both vehicles were twice seen entering Woburn Way earlier in the night, where an alleged drug deal took place.

This was believed to have been arranged as a cannabis deal, however the three men who died instead supplied large quantities of popcorn.

Following this interaction, a high speed pursuit took place, during which there is evidence of there being contact between the front of the Range Rover and the back of the Citroen Berlingo prior to it crashing.

Cook had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of perverting the course of justice.

He's also been sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to a 14 year disqualification from driving.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell said:

“Robbie Cook drove recklessly in pursuit of these three men. The evidence showed that due to his driving he had effectively forced the Berlingo into the junction of Decoy Drive and Hampden Park Drive at high speed, leaving them with nowhere to go and into what turned out to be a fatal collision.

“Despite his actions causing the collision, he showed no concern for the welfare of anybody in the car.

“He stopped at the scene to inspect the damage and saw the three males inside fatally injured but did not remain there, did not help, nor did he contact the emergency services. His reckless driving and pursuit of the Citroen caused this horrific collision in which three men tragically lost their lives.

“Our thoughts continue to be with their families, and we were determined to get answers and get justice for them.

“We are pleased that a dangerous offender has now been convicted and taken off our streets.”

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