18-year-old Owen Chambers, who caused serious injury to a young child through his dangerous driving, has somehow avoided an immediate jail term despite previously being told he was extremely likely to go to prison.
Chambers, of Mountbatten Drive in Newport, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing this morning (Thursday) having previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice, as well as failing to stop and driving without insurance.
It was on 25th February last year that Chambers crashed whilst driving along the main Whitwell to Ventnor road, as previously reported by Island Echo. His Mini One smashed into a Volkswagen Golf, injuring the 2 occupants inside.
But Chambers didn’t offer any assistance… instead, he and his passenger made a run for it, fleeing the scene in the direction of Week Lane.
The impact of the crash resulted in a 9-year-old boy sustaining significant injuries including a hematoma and bruising. The young lad’s condition was so serious he was later airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance.
Chambers’ denial of being the driver of the Mini later resulted in a charge of preventing the course of justice when the Police found out the truth of the matter. It has come to light that video evidence capturing an admission of guilt by Chambers led to him being charged – and his passenger being released.
Prosecuting, Tim Devlin told the court how Chambers wasn’t driving to the weather conditions and how he was on the wrong side of the road at the time of impact.
The court also heard how since the incident, the driver of the vehicle has not been able to un-see or unhear what happened and how she can vividly remember the screams of her young son as Chambers’ vehicle ploughed toward them.
Defending Chambers, Oscar Vincent told the court that his client had made no attempts to excuse his actions and that he was extremely remorseful. He added that a pre-sentence report noted a lack of maturity in Chambers at the time of the incident.
Summarising, Mr Recorder McElduff told Chambers that it was “not an easy sentencing exercise” and that he was “extremely lucky that no one was killed”. Mr McElduff added that the event was traumatic for the victims, saying to Chambers:
“Could you imagine how terrified the child involved must have been?”.
Explaining the decision to suspend the prison sentence, Recorder McElduff said that it wasn’t appropriate to stick to the general sentencing guidelines for someone who had just turned 18 at the time of the offences. Mr McElduff also cited the other mitigating factors in his decision.
Chambers was handed a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years. He was also banned from driving for 3 years and ordered to take an extended retest. A total of 200 hours unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days were attached to the suspended sentence order.
Recorder McElduff warned Chambers that any further offending or breach of the order would almost certainly result in him going to prison.
Only a suspended sentence Lol.
There are opticians on the island
what a joke the law is.
Driving without a licence and no MOT, not to
mention the rest.
Needs banging up.
No wonder everyday I see Numpty’s speeding on the
Island, it’s because they know the law is slack.
Stricter punishment is required
Says no insurance, not no MOT or licence. He must have had a licence for them to have ordered an extended re-test. It also says ‘other mitigating factors’ which we are not party to. I’d guess that prison space was one of them.
Can you believe this? what is going on! he’s been driving around whilst on ban. He was driving for years before he had a licence years…. From about 14.
The poor little boy and his family must be so hurt and angry by this out come.
Increase the driving age to 25
These juveniles are too immature to
drive.
Please don’t paint every young driver with the same brush! Or penalise them by raising the driving age. There are lots of new young, but very sensible kids out there that have worked bloody hard to raise the cash to take proper lessons and buy their first car.
Exactly. We have enough knee-jerk bans and laws as it is. If we do need new laws and tests, let them be for things like common sense, consideration for others, principles and community living.
Way too young to drive.
A vehicle is a weapon if not used correctly
The little rat bag!! I blame his mother for two minutes off pleasure
Pathetic sentence by the judge
Sorry but should have served a term in prison, he knew exactly what he was doing, this wasn’t a mistake, premeditated act, which has left a young child traumatised and fortunately not long term seriously injured, it could have been so much worse.
Dear Lord, yet another wonderful piece of law and order dispensed.
I am sure the driving ban will be effective!
Yet again ANOTHER REPEAToffender let loose to carry on making amockery of any semblance of law and order.
The magistrates, I am sure, would look at this differently if it was one of their own injured by these morons.
I don’t know why the police even bother bringing cases to court anymore.
Got off since he was just 18, and Starmer wants to give 16 yo the vote?
If that was my child chambers would not be smiling for long, he wouldn’t be able to drive and harm again with no eyesight.
Another pointless slap on the wrist, this scum should not have been driving in the first place as he was uninsured, he didn’t have the guts or morals to stay at the scene and deliberately tried to pervert the course of justice through his cowardice.
Justice in this country is a sick joke.
What’s the bloody point of the justice system..pathetic.
Ye he looks special..parents so proud..little shit.
Another ridiculously lenient sentence that islanders should appeal against. Appealing these sentences is the only way to make the government look at the problem of consistently lenient sentences on the island, and the ongoing reoffending.
His was my mate who got lifted to Southampton he had internal bleeding and a lot of bruises but lucky no permanent stuff