Dangerous driver from Ely jailed after leaving woman paralysed in crash
A 19-year-old has been sentenced to over two years in prison after a collision caused by using his mobile phone while driving left a woman permanently paralysed and requiring lifelong care
Last updated 26th Nov 2024
A 19-year-old driver has been jailed after a road collision left a woman paralysed from the neck down. The man, who was later identified as George Taylor from Stretham, Ely, appeared at Norwich Crown Court today, where he was sentenced to two years and two months in prison. He also received a 40-month driving ban and must pass an extended driving test before regaining his licence.
The incident occurred on 18 January 2023, when Taylor, driving a black Volkswagen Golf on the A47, failed to notice a Skoda Fabia stopped ahead of him, waiting to make a right turn. His vehicle collided with the rear of the Skoda at approximately 11am. Emergency responders attended the scene, where the Skoda’s driver, a woman in her 40s, went into cardiac arrest. Despite lifesaving efforts by an off-duty paramedic and police officers, she was left paralysed from the neck down and now requires lifelong care.
In court, it was revealed that Taylor had been using his mobile phone throughout the journey. Analysis of his phone showed that he made two calls, sent a text, and recorded five videos while driving, some of which depicted him steering with his knees while overtaking at speed. Taylor had held his licence for less than 12 weeks when the collision took place.
The victim’s family expressed their anguish in a statement: “Catherine has always been such a gregarious person with a great sense of humour and so full of life. She had a strong work ethic and would put her hand to anything and everything. She also dotes on her son.
“I’ll never forget that day when we were told she had been in an accident, and then arriving at the hospital to be facing the reality that we may lose her. To hear that my only daughter may not survive was heart-breaking and, as her dad, all I wanted to do was make everything better for her.
“The past 22 months have been traumatic and while I can’t change anything, I hope that by speaking out I can make others aware of what can happen on the roads. Catherine’s life was changed in a split second, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
“My focus now is to help Catherine and her son as much as I can to make their lives as comfortable as possible.”
Following the sentencing, Sgt Callum Walchester, the lead investigator, commented on the case: “This is a deeply tragic case which, like many collisions, could have been entirely avoidable. George Taylor didn’t set out on the morning of 18th January intending to cause unimaginable injuries to another person but sadly that is exactly what he did.
“Catherine was a fit and healthy mother who now, as a result of Taylor’s actions, will live out the rest of her life paralysed and requiring lifelong care and support.
“Catherine and her family have agreed for us to tell her story to highlight the dangers that using a mobile phone poses, in the hope that no one else is in their position. This is testament to their strength and outlook and for that, I thank them.
“George Taylor made multiple decisions to use his mobile phone that day and in doing so put himself and everyone else at significant risk. It was Catherine who has paid the price.
“The use of a mobile phone is one of the fatal four offences. It is distracting and put simply, it’s dangerous. It doesn’t matter what you are using it for, you are putting every road user at risk.
“It is because of incidents like this that we enforce not only mobile phone offences, but all the fatal four. People often think it will never happen to them, but we see all too often how quickly life can change because of this type of offending.
“Incidents like these are indiscriminate, they can happen to anyone, at any time. It doesn’t matter how good of a driver you may think you are—if you are using your mobile phone, you are risking the life of every road user you encounter.”