Teen driver's chilling warning on Snapchat before 'showing off' ended with three pals dead
What should have been an ordinary drive home for a group of teenage friends descended into tragedy following a horror crash.
Harry Purcell, 17, Tilly Seccombe, 16, and Frank Wormald, 16, all lost their lives after the newly-qualified Edward Spencer lost control of his Ford Fiesta between Chipping Campden and Shipston-on-Stour in April 2023. A woman and two young children, who'd been travelling in another car, were also seriously injured and continue to receive treatment for their life-changing injuries.
Warwick Crown Court on Monday convicted Spencer of three counts of causing death by careless driving and three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving. The 19-year-old, who changed his pleas to guilty in March, having previously denied wrongdoing, was sentenced to two years' detention.
CCTV showed Spencer driving significantly in excess of the speed limit as he passed a pub three miles from the crash scene, the court heard. It was determined that the crash had been caused by a "lethal combination" of grossly excessive speed and a failure to drive according to the road conditions.
The court heard how Spencer, who had passed his driving test just five weeks before the deaths of his three friends, had a history of "showing off, driving too quickly and failing to heed the warnings of those who were in the car with him".
This was evidenced by social media videos unearthed after the incident. Tragically, Tilly herself had previously complained about Spencer's driving in a Snapchat message, which he'd responded to, saying: "Don't underestimate me".
Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Lockhart KC told Spencer how his previous, habitual poor driving meant there was a "terrible inevitability" about the "catastrophic" crash. Pointing to social media evidence, including footage of Spencer speeding past a mobility scooter at more than 50mph, the judge said: "It is disturbing material and it seriously aggravates the position you find yourself in.
"This is material that is indisputable, largely captured on video. There is here clear and crystal clear evidence of previous poor driving." Other social media evidence included a conversation about Spencer hitting a pothole while driving. A nine-second video also showed Spencer driving with just one hand with 'music blaring'.
In another 19-second clip, Spencer, with a female passenger, says: "When I reverse really fast, it is going to crash and fly down, fasten your seatbelt." She held up her hands to catch the phone, and he said, 'It doesn't go fast on gravel.'"
In another clip with four passengers, Spencer says: "'you can drive nicely when you pass, then you can drive like a d*******'." Spencer was criticised by relatives of the injured children and two of those killed for showing an apparent lack of remorse after he was seen smirking during a previous hearing.
During sentencing on Monday, Spencer, who has been banned from driving for eight years, appeared to show no obvious emotion as his sentence was handed down. Commenting on the case, Detective Sergeant Stephen Barr, the officer in charge of the investigation, stated: "This was a truly tragic collision, and our thoughts remain with all those involved and affected by what happened.
"Edward Spencer was an inexperienced driver who made decisions on that day that changed many lives forever. He and all the families affected will have to live with the consequences of what he did for the rest of their lives.
"As this tragic case shows, the consequences of careless driving can be devastating. Any death is difficult to come to terms with, but for three young lives to be lost who each had so much to look forward to is extremely challenging.
"We know this conviction will not bring comfort to the loved ones of the three teenagers who lost their lives as well as those who were seriously injured, but we welcome the judge's decision in this matter."
Warwickshire Police stated that this case demonstrated the "devastating consequences" that can occur due to reckless driving. Speaking after Spencer's guilty plea, Inspector Michael Huntley of the Warwickshire Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, warned other young people and their parents to be aware of the limitations of being a newly-qualified driver.
He continued: "Drivers need to be aware of the devastating consequences that can occur if a car is driven carelessly. Edward Spencer had only passed his test five weeks prior to the collision, and his careless actions cost the lives of three young people travelling in his car. Driving requires judgment and care, even more so when you lack experience.
"As this tragic case shows, the consequences of careless driving can be devastating. So many lives have been ruined by this terrible incident.
"I can't begin to imagine the pain this has caused, and our thoughts remain with the individuals and families affected. Edward Spencer will live with the consequences of his careless actions for the rest of his life, as will the families of all those involved."
Harry, Tilly, and Frank were all sixth-form students at Gloucestershire's Chipping Campden School. The school paid tribute to the three teenagers shortly after they lost their lives.
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