Mother of Archie Battersbee and Son Convicted in Revenge Attack
Hollie Dance, the mother of Archie Battersbee, and her older son Thomas Summers have been found guilty of a violent revenge attack that took place just weeks after the 12-year-old schoolboy's tragic death. The pair were convicted of grievous bodily harm by a jury at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday following approximately two hours of deliberations.
Details of the Violent Incident
The court heard that the attack occurred in 2022 after Dance and Summers learned that their victim had allegedly struck Dance's daughter over the head with a bottle. In a dramatic pursuit across Essex, the pair chased the man from Southend to Basildon. According to testimony, Dance rammed the victim's vehicle with her BMW, forcing him to crash, before Summers drove into him with a Toyota after he emerged from the wreckage.
Both defendants were found guilty of grievous bodily harm after denying the offence. Additionally, Summers was convicted of affray, while Dance was found guilty of possessing CS spray. Their friend Rhys Bentley was acquitted of all charges, including inflicting GBH with intent, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and affray.
Connection to Archie Battersbee's Death
The incident occurred only months after the death of Dance's son Archie, who passed away on August 6, 2022, following an accident that left him brain-dead. Dance had mounted a highly publicised but unsuccessful court battle to keep her son's life support switched on, though medical professionals determined his injuries were unsurvivable.
During the trial, Dance revealed that the attack took place three weeks after she laid Archie to rest. She described visiting his grave daily and struggling to be at home, where she had found him after his accident. Dance claimed she followed the complainant to obtain his address for police reporting, while Summers testified that the man had been part of a group tormenting the family online after Archie's passing.
Prosecution's Case and Victim's Account
The prosecution accused the group of mounting a revenge attack against the victim. Earlier in the pursuit, when the victim stopped at a red light, Summers, Bentley, and unknown accomplices allegedly smashed his car windows with a wooden bat. The victim maintained he was stalked by Dance before being attacked by masked assailants who sprang from another car.
He described his car windows being smashed with baseball bats before he fled toward the A127 with Dance in pursuit. Prosecutors claimed she rammed his car from behind, causing him to crash into a tree on Uppermayne in Basildon, where he was subsequently rammed again by a second vehicle. The victim suffered serious injuries, including a broken shoulder, and reported ongoing difficulties with walking and emotional damage.
Sentencing Expectations and Aftermath
The defendants were warned to expect custodial sentences, with guidelines suggesting they could spend at least five years behind bars. This conviction adds another layer of tragedy to a family already devastated by the loss of Archie Battersbee, whose case captured national attention during the legal battle over his life support.
