Latest news with #VolkswagenScirocco
Wales Online
08-07-2025
- Wales Online
Violent man swung chair at victim in wine bar but that was far from the end of his night out
Violent man swung chair at victim in wine bar but that was far from the end of his night out Callum Edwards, 24, punched, kicked and swung a chair at a man in the bar, before becoming involved in a high speed police chase the same evening Callum Edwards, 24, assaulted a man at a wine bar by punching, kicking and swinging a chair at him. (Image: Gwent Police ) A violent man wounded his victim who entered a wine bar with a group by punching and kicking him and throwing a chair at him while he was laying on the floor. Later that night he was involved in a high speed police chase and appeared to be under the influence. Callum Edwards, 24, assaulted Alfie Watkins at the Wine Cellar in Blaenavon on March 30 last year. There was initially a scuffle between them before the defendant approached Mr Watkins a second time and attempted to swing a chair at him before smashing a glass on a table. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the victim and another man attempted to leave the bar but he was pulled back into the premises and ended up on the floor. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. Prosecutor Bethan Evans said Edwards swung a chair at Mr Watkins while he was on the floor, and the victim then got up to hide behind the bar. The defendant threw the liquid contents of a glass at Mr Watkins before following him behind the bar, where he punched and kneed him to his body and pulled him to the floor. He then proceeded to punch and kick the victim until others intervened and pulled him away. Article continues below Mr Watkins was taken to hospital where he was treated for extensive bruising and a wound to the spinal area of his back. Later that evening, police observed a black Skoda Fabia being driven at high speed on the A4043 travelling in the direction of Blaenavon, and an attempt was made to stop the vehicle but the driver ignored this. A pursuit lasting 21 minutes then ensued, covering a distance of 21 miles and ending in Cwmbran. During the journey, Edwards drove at excess speed and attempted to "bully" traffic in his way while driving on the wrong side of a roundabout. Motorists had to take evasive action in order to avoid a collision with the defendant's Skoda, but eventually a stinger device was used to puncture the vehicle's tyres. Edwards made an attempt to flee from the car but he was Tasered by officers and detained. He smelt of intoxicants, his eyes were glazed over and he was unsteady on his feet. He was asked to provide a breath sample to test for alcohol but he refused to do so on two occasions. There was a further police pursuit on October 18 last year when an attempt was made to stop the defendant who was driving a Volkswagen Scirocco with a broken headlight on the A4043 near Pontypool. The vehicle reached speeds of 80mph in 20mph zones during the pursuit, as Edwards passed through red lights as he reached Abersychan. The tyres of the Volkswagen were stung but the defendant continued to drive until they began disintegrating and he was driving on the rims. Edwards came to a stop in Avon Road, Blaenavon, and again fled from the car but was detained after crossing a river. The defendant, of Coleridge Green, St Dials, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, affray, two counts of dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen. The court heard he had one previous conviction relating to driving offences. Article continues below In mitigation, Tabitha Walker said her client had shown remorse for his behaviour, which was attributed to his use of alcohol and substance misuse. She said the defendant's father had died from alcoholism and he was working to address his issues. Judge Richard Kember sentenced Edwards to a total of 50 months imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for three years.
ITV News
26-06-2025
- ITV News
Driver running late for work killed wife in A16 crash
A driver who killed his wife in a crash after running late for work has been jailed. Asen Kurtev had 39-year-old Sofka Mitkova and three other colleagues in his Vauxhall Zafira when he caused a head-on collision on the A16 near Spalding, Lincolnshire, on 4 March last year. His wife, who was the front seat passenger, suffered fatal injuries. The other passengers were seriously injured, along with the driver of the other car, a Volkswagen Scirocco. Kurtev, 46, of Carlton Road, Boston, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving. He was jailed for 10 years and nine months. Lincoln Crown Court heard he had already overtaken other vehicles before he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre when the crash happened at about 6.50am. Witnesses said he had been driving erratically in heavy traffic. Kurtev told police he had been in a rush as he and his passengers were late for work. Det Sgt Adam Doona, of Lincolnshire Police, said: 'Kurtev's lateness for work led to him driving dangerously, carrying out inappropriate overtakes with a reckless regard for the safety of other road users. "As a result, his wife paid the ultimate price and four other individuals sustained serious injuries which required extensive ongoing treatment. 'Whilst no-one wants to be late, it is better to arrive late, than not at all. The selfish actions and utter disregard for others that Kurtev displayed have rightly attracted a substantial sentence from the court.' Kurtev was also banned from driving for 12 years two months.
Rhyl Journal
26-06-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Driver who killed wife in head-on crash because he was running late is jailed
Asen Kurtev carried out 'an obviously highly dangerous' overtake on the A16 outside Boston in Lincolnshire, as he was driving colleagues to work on the morning of March 4 last year. He collided with an oncoming vehicle, causing his wife, Sofka Mitkova, 39, fatal chest injuries. He was jailed at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday for 10 years and nine months, for causing death by dangerous driving, with concurrent sentences of 36 months for three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to three backseat passengers in his Vauxhall Zafira, and 27 months concurrent for causing serious injury to the driver of the oncoming vehicle he crashed into. Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight KC told Kurtev, 46, that the loss of his wife is a 'pain and punishment you will carry forever'. The court heard husband and wife passengers Kiril Ribarov and Gayla Ribarova, who were in the back of Kurtev's car alongside Dimitar Dimitrov, told the defendant to slow down as he overtook multiple vehicles while driving them to work at JZ Flowers at about 6.50am. Prosecution counsel Tony Stanford said it was Kurtev's job to pick up workers and drive to them to the factory for the 7am shift, but he was 25 minutes late collecting them, and Mr Ribarov told police it was clear he was 'trying to catch up on his lateness'. He described Kurtev's behaviour, including overtaking a line of four or five cars on the A16, in a manoeuvre lasting around 15 seconds on the busy road, as 'suicide, kamikaze driving'. Judge Sjolin Knight said that, like many Lincolnshire A-roads, the A16 was flat and straight with good visibility, and that the conditions were 'not such that there was any point in overtaking as there was a line of traffic'. Kurtev's car was 'wholly in the other carriageway' when he crashed head on into a Volkswagen Scirocco being driven by Cameron Marshall, who was left with fractures to his lower spine and wrist, and damage to his spleen and upper bowel, and required surgery to his abdomen and his forearm, which needed to be realigned. In a victim impact statement, Mr Marshall, who was 22 at the time and a professional HGV driver, said the crash was 'never something I ever thought I would experience', and the effect his injuries have had on his family has been 'truly heartbreaking'. All three of Kurtev's passengers, none of whom were wearing a seat belt because they reportedly did not work, were seriously injured, and Mr Ribarov said he and his wife have had to return to Bulgaria. He said the crash, which left him with a fractured eye socket, cheekbone, kneecap and wrist, had caused 'horrendous stress', adding: 'We were in a foreign country with no income and no support. 'When this happened, we came to England to work, but had to return to Bulgaria because we couldn't work. Everything in Bulgaria is so expensive, I can't support my family.' Representing Kurtev, who pleaded guilty to the offences on Monday, which was due to be the first day of his trial, John McNally said he never would have carried out the overtake if he had seen Mr Marshall's car coming towards him. He said: 'He is truly sorry for what happened, he never meant for it to happen. 'He realises the failings were his and he regrets what has been caused to everybody and knows it is a daily reminder, from the destruction of his family life, of what he did. 'It will weigh heavily on him. 'In custody he will be largely alone as a man with limited skills and limited language.' Addressing Kurtev, of Carlton Road in Boston, who listened to proceedings via a Bulgarian interpreter, Judge Sjolin Knight said: 'The small car coming towards you was driven by 22-year-old Cameron Marshall, a professional HGV driver. 'The drivers of the three cars behind yours saw his car, you should have seen it too, particularly as you were the one pulling out to drive on his side of the road. 'Whether you saw it and thought you could get back in before he reached you, or you didn't see it, I cannot determine. 'The traffic conditions were not such that there was any point in overtaking, there was a line of traffic. 'The amount of traffic meant this was a manoeuvre you never should have attempted because there was no safe way back into the line of traffic. 'Witnesses inside and outside the car described it as suicidal, kamikaze and crazy. It is not a safe manoeuvre that went wrong.' She added: 'You were the one who had embarked on an obviously highly dangerous manoeuvre and the result was a head-on collision. 'The results of that head-on collision have been catastrophic.' The judge said Kurtev may face being automatically deported after his sentence, of which he must serve two-thirds, and was banned from driving for five years upon his release.
Western Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Western Telegraph
Driver who killed wife in head-on crash because he was running late is jailed
Asen Kurtev carried out 'an obviously highly dangerous' overtake on the A16 outside Boston in Lincolnshire, as he was driving colleagues to work on the morning of March 4 last year. He collided with an oncoming vehicle, causing his wife, Sofka Mitkova, 39, fatal chest injuries. He was jailed at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday for 10 years and nine months, for causing death by dangerous driving, with concurrent sentences of 36 months for three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to three backseat passengers in his Vauxhall Zafira, and 27 months concurrent for causing serious injury to the driver of the oncoming vehicle he crashed into. Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight KC told Kurtev, 46, that the loss of his wife is a 'pain and punishment you will carry forever'. The court heard husband and wife passengers Kiril Ribarov and Gayla Ribarova, who were in the back of Kurtev's car alongside Dimitar Dimitrov, told the defendant to slow down as he overtook multiple vehicles while driving them to work at JZ Flowers at about 6.50am. Prosecution counsel Tony Stanford said it was Kurtev's job to pick up workers and drive to them to the factory for the 7am shift, but he was 25 minutes late collecting them, and Mr Ribarov told police it was clear he was 'trying to catch up on his lateness'. He described Kurtev's behaviour, including overtaking a line of four or five cars on the A16, in a manoeuvre lasting around 15 seconds on the busy road, as 'suicide, kamikaze driving'. Judge Sjolin Knight said that, like many Lincolnshire A-roads, the A16 was flat and straight with good visibility, and that the conditions were 'not such that there was any point in overtaking as there was a line of traffic'. Kurtev's car was 'wholly in the other carriageway' when he crashed head on into a Volkswagen Scirocco being driven by Cameron Marshall, who was left with fractures to his lower spine and wrist, and damage to his spleen and upper bowel, and required surgery to his abdomen and his forearm, which needed to be realigned. In a victim impact statement, Mr Marshall, who was 22 at the time and a professional HGV driver, said the crash was 'never something I ever thought I would experience', and the effect his injuries have had on his family has been 'truly heartbreaking'. All three of Kurtev's passengers, none of whom were wearing a seat belt because they reportedly did not work, were seriously injured, and Mr Ribarov said he and his wife have had to return to Bulgaria. He said the crash, which left him with a fractured eye socket, cheekbone, kneecap and wrist, had caused 'horrendous stress', adding: 'We were in a foreign country with no income and no support. 'When this happened, we came to England to work, but had to return to Bulgaria because we couldn't work. Everything in Bulgaria is so expensive, I can't support my family.' Representing Kurtev, who pleaded guilty to the offences on Monday, which was due to be the first day of his trial, John McNally said he never would have carried out the overtake if he had seen Mr Marshall's car coming towards him. He said: 'He is truly sorry for what happened, he never meant for it to happen. 'He realises the failings were his and he regrets what has been caused to everybody and knows it is a daily reminder, from the destruction of his family life, of what he did. 'It will weigh heavily on him. 'In custody he will be largely alone as a man with limited skills and limited language.' Addressing Kurtev, of Carlton Road in Boston, who listened to proceedings via a Bulgarian interpreter, Judge Sjolin Knight said: 'The small car coming towards you was driven by 22-year-old Cameron Marshall, a professional HGV driver. 'The drivers of the three cars behind yours saw his car, you should have seen it too, particularly as you were the one pulling out to drive on his side of the road. 'Whether you saw it and thought you could get back in before he reached you, or you didn't see it, I cannot determine. 'The traffic conditions were not such that there was any point in overtaking, there was a line of traffic. 'The amount of traffic meant this was a manoeuvre you never should have attempted because there was no safe way back into the line of traffic. 'Witnesses inside and outside the car described it as suicidal, kamikaze and crazy. It is not a safe manoeuvre that went wrong.' She added: 'You were the one who had embarked on an obviously highly dangerous manoeuvre and the result was a head-on collision. 'The results of that head-on collision have been catastrophic.' The judge said Kurtev may face being automatically deported after his sentence, of which he must serve two-thirds, and was banned from driving for five years upon his release.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Car passenger shoots at pedestrian in town centre
A car passenger shot at a pedestrian in a town centre street, police have said. Thames Valley Police said the shooting happened at 18:10 BST on Tuesday in Broad Street, Chesham, in Buckinghamshire A man in his 30s suffered shoulder injuries when he was shot at by a passenger in a silver Volkswagen Scirocco, the force said. "I appreciate that news of this incident will come as a shock to residents of Chesham," said Det Insp Paddy Navin. The Volkswagen Scirocco drove off. The victim was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. Det Insp Navin said: "I want to reassure the community that we believe this was an isolated incident and the offender and victim were known to each other." He said a "potential key witness" was a man in a yellow Audi, who was seen speaking to the victim before the shooting. The last three letters of the Audi's number plate were ARV. The force has appealed for phone and dashcam footage. Townsend Road is closed while an investigation takes place. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Thames Valley Police
