‘Lunatic’ driver caused woman to lose thumb in horror crash

A DERBYSHIRE chef has been jailed for 27 months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving after he attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre which left a woman with life-affecting injuries.

Chef Matthew Hartley had only passed his test one year before the crash in Barnsley on June 11, 2020, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

The 28-year-old was driving at speed and already had overtaken two cars on the day of the incident.

He attempted to overtake a third car when he took a bend in Halifax Road at Wortley at around 5pm, skidded, and smashed into the Toyota his victims had been travelling in.

Hartley’s car was so badly damaged that both his barrister and the judge during his sentencing last month said he was lucky to be alive.

He hit the oncoming Toyota with such force that the engine and a wheel were ripped from the chassis of his Mini.

His victim suffered excruciating injury to her hand and had to have her thumb amputated, prosecutor Louise Gallagher told the court.

Her husband was said to have blacked out on impact and did not even have time to brake before Hartley’s car smashed into his.

Hartley told detectives he was unable to remember anything from the time he left work at around 4.30pm to the moment he woke up in hospital.

Ms Gallagher added that a witness said Hartley had been overtaking other vehicles and pulling away from others travelling between 40 and 50mph. Another witness described Hartley’s Mini as being “bumper-to-bumper” with another car further ahead.

In a victim impact statement read by Ms Gallagher, it was revealed the woman who lost her thumb in the ordeal had to have skin and nerve grafts and suffered from a loss of sensation in her hand as a result of hyper extending her arm when protecting herself.

She added that Harley’s victim was unable to work at her balloon business and had to cancel £3,000 worth of orders. She is also said to require help in carrying out the simplest of tasks such as getting dressed, cooking and opening a bottle.

Joy Merriam, defending Hartley, from Dronfield, said her client was “consumed with remorse” and this was further demonstrated when he appeared emotional as Ms Gallagher read the victim impact statements to the court.

Ms Merriam added that Hartley would trade places with his victim if he could.

The Recorder Megan Rhys told the court that one witness described Hartley as driving like a “lunatic” in the moments leading up to the crash on the wet road.

Alluding to the photos of the aftermath of the crash, she told Hartley: “You were lucky to walk out of that alive.”

Hartley admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for 27 months. He was also banned from driving for four years and a month and must carry out an extended retest when he is allowed to do so.